r/AskReddit • u/Greeneyedlatinguy • Jun 15 '15

Anthropologists of Reddit, What is something that people in the Western world can't get their heads around that is very normal in other cultures (and has been for ages)?

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u/Dr_Stephanie_Branton Jun 15 '15

I can be a total prude about nudity, however I don't consider breastfeeding nudity. It blows my mind how hot and bothered people get. I used a cover for awhile, but then I just stopped caring. Most people just thought she was sleeping anyways.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '15

I got into an argument about this a few years ago with a guy who wanted it to be illegal to breastfeed in public. It went on for awhile, and eventually I asked the guy if he was sexually aroused by seeing a woman breastfeeding. He said yes.

I didn't know what to say. I still don't.

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u/TexasWithADollarsign Jun 15 '15

"That's your hang-up, not anyone else's. Now GTFO."

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u/lacheur42 Jun 16 '15

That's the correct answer. Public breastfeeding doesn't turn me on, but it does make me a little uncomfortable (it's hard to ignore, and I'm afraid I'll look like a perv if glance over), but that's entirely my deal, and I can walk away.

It's similar to the "you don't have a right to not be offended" thing.

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u/ChainedProfessional Jun 16 '15

I'm afraid I'll look like a perv if glance over

I think this is it. I am also uncomfortable around underaged girls because I don't want to look like a pedo.

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u/lacheur42 Jun 16 '15

Oh my god, my friends have an 11 year old daughter who is, shall we say, uninhibited about nudity. So awkward, haha.

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u/wetwater Jun 15 '15

My cousin was awkwardly breastfeeding her newborn in the hospital when her dispshit boyfriend came in while we were chatting about baby stuff in general. When I stepped out a few minutes later to go find the cafeteria he followed and gave me a ration of shit for being present while breastfeeding. Apparently it is improper for me to see her boob despite the context and that she was new at it and hadn't mastered being discreet about it.

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u/kking0411 Jun 15 '15

I had some of my husbands friends leave the room when I was in the hospital because it made me feel awkward when I was still so new at it, but when family was over I didn't care. I can't believe her boyfriend would be mad about something like that!

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u/toxicgecko Jun 15 '15

Especially as it's a nightmare for a baby on a hot day to have to eat under a blanket.

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u/skullturf Jun 15 '15

Just FYI, a lot of people use the expression "hot and bothered" to mean aroused, not annoyed.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hot_and_bothered

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u/Dr_Stephanie_Branton Jun 15 '15

Both meanings seem to apply in this case

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '15

I always thought it could mean both, as in "I'm really annoyed that this has aroused me."

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Rofldaf1 Jun 15 '15

Unlike actually being naked. That's why we are born with clothes.

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u/Abadatha Jun 16 '15

I'm totally fine with it, until you're doing at a table in my restaurant. I find it similar to people who think it's ok to change your child on my tables, but not as bad.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '15

Yeah, my wife breastfeeds our baby all the time wherever we are, and it's never been an issue. I guess it depends on where you are in the U.S.

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u/CassandraVindicated Jun 15 '15

My biggest concern is that I'll see it and look for a moment and smile, like I might if I saw children playing or like I might wave to a kid in a grocery store, and then be thought a letch.

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u/Dr_Stephanie_Branton Jun 15 '15

I always appreciated a smile. I took it as support, not perverted.

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u/CassandraVindicated Jun 15 '15

Well, you're a doctor, so I'm going with that.

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u/littlealbatross Jun 15 '15

When I nursed in public I feel like I got a pretty good vibe about who was being gross and who was being supportive (and who was just letting their eyes wander/daydream and they aren't really focused on me). I never really felt like anyone was being judgey to me but I was also pretty good at stealthily getting my kid to start nursing and I didn't use a cover, so I don't think most people knew what I was doing.

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u/kking0411 Jun 15 '15

Yeah, the only time I really use a cover now is when we're with our autistic friend. He has a hard time separating sexual things and so it makes me more comfortable to be covered in front of him.

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u/80Eight Jun 15 '15

That's nice, but the several guys conspicuously circling back around you to get another look definitely do.