Time breastfeeding cover sparks controversy

[accadacca]

This week's Time magazine cover features Jamie Lynne Grumet, a 26-year-old woman breastfeeding her three-year-old son. Grumet was one of four mothers photographed by Time for a cover story on "attachment parenting," an approach--outlined by 1992's "The Baby Book" by Dr. Bill Sears--that recommends extended breast-feeding, co-sleeping and "baby wearing." Time's coverline for the May 21 issue asks, "Are You Mom Enough?"

The provocative cover, published online Thursday, was met with the predictable Twitter jaw-drop.

"Love the Time cover," AllThingsD.com's Peter Kafka wrote. "In the cringiest way possible."

"Anybody else slightly slack-jawed over this week's Time cover?" The Atlantic Wire's Adam Clark Estes rhetorically asked.

"Breastfeeding your 3-year-old is one thing," the Daily News' Bill Hammond wrote. "But putting a picture of him doing it on the cover of Time?"

"The kid on the cover of this week's Time magazine is really going to hate middle school," Gavin Purcell observed.

"Heads up, parents!" John Cannon warned. "If you're planning to take your kids grocery shopping, you will have to explain this Time mag cover."

"I would be way more impressed with Time if they put a mom on the cover in the typical age bracket of 'attachment parenting,'" Salon's Irin Carmon tweeted. "Not a 26-year-old."

Time managing editor Rick Stengel defended the decision for the cover.

"We used an image that represents the attachment of a mother and child," Stengel said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." MSNBC showed the cover but blurred the breast out during the broadcast. ABC's "The View" covered it up, too.

"I don't wince when I look at the picture," he continued. "I think it's provocative. I think it's a little whimsical. I think she represents an outlier of women who are breastfeeding beyond one year. The cover is meant to get your attention. It gets your attention. I think this is a legitimate debate. It's a debate lots and lots of women are having."

It's not the first time Time has put a breastfeeding mom on its cover. In 1999, the magazine's cover featured a woman breastfeeding her baby for a special report on the war in Kosovo. And Time has featured breasts on its cover before for stories related to breast cancer.

It's worth noting that the international cover of Time's May 21 issue does not feature a breastfeeding image--it's new French president Francois Holland.

Nonetheless, it's likely going to get Time magazine censored at some newsstands. New York's Hudson News has a history of covering up magazines in its window display that put scantily-clad women on their covers. In 2006, the Grand Central Terminal newsstand put sheets of paper over three consecutive issues of FHM.

Later that year, Hudson News censored an issue of Marie Claire featuring a topless Ashley Judd.


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/...151539970.html

[Deathcricket]

Oh to be 7 years old again, good times. *sigh*

[tanya]

That is just wrong when a kid is that old! Babies YES! Past age the age of 2 - No way!

[restrac2000]

I am not sure there is clearcut wrong and right in the issue of breast feeding. I do say I am shocked the parents agreed to the photoshoots....those kids will be teenagers someday and this will follow them. Seems a little inconsiderate of their larger social lives.

[Byron]

Looks yummy. Provocative? Oh yeah...that kid looks like he's ready for little league. If the child was a newborn or a can barley walk toddler it probably wouldn't be such a big deal, but Time is all about getting attention with this. I just watched the Today show segment and they're framing it as a "new fad". Kind of like the bubble baby part 2. It'll be interesting to see how this is going to be topped...

[QuillGordon]

Three year old son? Breastmilk must be good stuff the kid looks twice that age

[mattandersao]

New Fad? In many countries this is very common. In Brazil I witnessed a kid run to his mom, unbutton her shirt, grab the milk bag and suckle.

[Deathcricket]

Looks pretty accurate to me.

[restrac2000]

DeathCricket.....that website is disturbing. Don't think I could ever appreciate the author's sense of humor.

[Deathcricket]

Hehe I got it off facebook, too scared to visit that site.

[BruteForce]

The only thing I find provocative is that the woman isn't lactating (breasts aren't nearly large enough), yet has this big kick suckling her non-lactating breasts.

[Byron]

Yeah, probably putting up a big, juicy melon would have been pushing the limits?

[Iceaxe]

Anyone watch Game of Thrones? It's a great series if you have missed it..... anyhoo...

[Deathcricket]

Yeah buddy, very interesting show. Never had this happen before, I'm not rooting for anyone to win, and want them all to just die.

Khal Drago was amazing though. Still rooting for his wife I guess.

[restrac2000]

Yeah, those two characters are disturbing.

[Iceaxe]

I like my beer straight from the tap, rather than from a can or bottle.... is that the same thing?

I bet things get interesting when the little dude invites his friends over for milk and cookies.

[Sombeech]