First off, As a green doula, I have to applaud Angelina for gracing the cover of the new W magazine while breastfeeding. Awesome that the photographer just so happened to be her husband, Brad Pitt. Angelina is inspirational because she has confidently taken a stand and is sending a message loud and clear. Women who are mothers are naturally beautiful and breastfeeding is a normal natural phenomenon that should be accepted as a social norm.
Though the cover picture is just a simple black and white photo, and there were no fancy film crews in their home, there still remains evident a beautiful halo of motherhood.
Breastfeeding is healthy and super beneficial for mother and child. It is unfortunate that over the years, breastfeeding has been given a taboo cloak, though that does seem to be slowly changing. Because of these tainted views, many women aren’t given the freedom, encouragement and support that they need to give nutrients to their child, build their immune systems, reduce a their own risk of certain types of cancer, and more.
With this cover, a dialogue can begin again.
Secondly, Brad Pitt has collaborated with beauty brand Kiehl’s to create the first ever Cradle-to-Cradle certified beauty product (environmentally safe, healthy , designed for material reutilization,etc.) The Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser that Brad helped design and developed the scent, debuts this month.
He also wrote a little message on the label to inform everyone where proceeds from their purchase will go:
Despite the negative tabloidization of their lives, I think Brangelina are amazing and inspirational.
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I concur - they are very inspirational. The press should focus on the positives, like you just did. Thank you.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pmHow do you feel about Angelina’s breastfeeding being sexualized on the cover of a magazine though? Because it seems to me that the photograph is more about her exposed breast than it is about her breastfeeding - in fact, I had to squint closely just to tell that was what she was doing. It’s almost if they’re trying to make it look like a normal revealing photo.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:38 pmBeing so active in third world nations, I have wondered if Angelina was going to speak publicly on breastfeeding and the importance of providing babies with mother’s milk. How many mothers in Africa are encouraged to use baby formula? (let alone those encouraged in America - first thing many doctors do, when they find out you’re pregnant is give you a baby bag full of powdered formula - ugh.) With water being scarce, it would seem that nursing would be the wisest way to go, wherever you live. In third world nations, perhaps malnutrition affects one’s decision to use baby formula instead of breastmilk. Too bad Nestle can’t give these mothers food and nutrients instead of tins of artificial milk.
The photo is sensual but it most definitely is a woman breastfeeding on the cover of W. There was no doubt in my mind that was what she was doing when I first saw the shot. It is Angelina, so no doubt, the photo will be sexualized by many. I am sure Bill Maher will love it.
I wish Kiehls could be more conscious about all of their other products. They tend to use a lot of questionable ingredients. It is a step in the right direction and it is great that the proceeds go entirely to charity. I wish they would state which charity.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pmI don’t know if it’s such a terrible thing is breastfeeding is seen as sensual or maybe even a little sexy. What is real sexiness anyway? I think it is warmth, compassion, sexuality, openness, risk-taking, love of yourself and the person you’re with, and something mysterious, maybe a little something dangerous. For me, anyway. The sexual act creates a baby, breastfeeding makes you feel good (releases hormones or something right?) so why can’t it be both nurturing, loving, and sexy? Breasts are fetishized to the extreme, it’s true, but I can’t be the only woman who feels like it would be sad if breasts were de-sexualized completely, to the level of interest as the back of the neck- an erogenous zone but nothing exciting about it. Also, I don’t want to live in a world where unless I breastfeed a baby, my breasts are totally pointless objects (what if I choose to adopt or choose not to have kids?) Breasts are more than sexual objects, yes, but lets NOT desexualize them in the quest for breastfeeding acceptance. Can’t we have both? It seems very American that we have to have the “sexy” breast OR the “working” breast. Why can’t they be both? If I were a man I would think that seeing my partner feed my child WOULD be sexy, and I think this is true in other countries. Anyway, I think Angelina is really hot AND a great parent, and she should absolutely be able to do both (and I think that’s what this pic is about).
October 21st, 2008 at 5:05 pmI too wish Kiehl’s would green all their products. One product does not make them an environmentally friendly company. Rather than introducing a new product, they should of reformulated all of their products.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pmIt’s funny, you all seem to think breast feeding is so taboo. I have not found that at all in my everyday life. In fact all the books/paperwork/OBGYN’s that I have read or spoken to encourage it AND almost every person I know with children has breastfed. If you mean whipping out your breast in public, there are ways to be discreet and people don’t usually frown upon that. If you are in the middle of a public place and take out the girls and I’m sitting with my kid, whom I try very hard to explain privacy to, then yeah, people get annoyed. But if you use a blanket or wrap, I personally have never heard a complaint. Now for someone like me, a mother of twins, feels looked down upon and a tremendous amount of guilt for not being able to breastfeed. A lot of people in eco circles make it seem as if, your basically abusing your newborn. Nothing quite like pressure to help the flow! Anyway, I always feel like I need to add a disclaimer that I would have breastfed if my milk would have come in. The odds were against me, and I realize it is the best (let’s face it…almost everyone knows that), but take it easy on the formula mommas. It’s not always laziness or what have you, sometimes it’s a necessity.
Sorry, guess this was a touchy subject for me, I’m looking back and realize I have totally taken this somewhere the author probably didn’t intend to go. Just ignore the sleep deprived, momma’s rant!
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 amthere are a lot of double standards in thier lives. she breastfeeds however you constantly see photos of her children eating processed foods like hotdogs, cheetos, and soda. brad (while in la) went to an eco event in san fransico not by driving but with taking a private jet. i know life happens and your eco footprint is hard to balance at times, i just think these examples are absurd.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:20 amHey folks, Kieh’s is owned by Loreal. That’s why it’s so far from the original apothecary gem from which it hatched :(
As far as Brangenlina, remember “Shiloh got a $17,000 diamond-encrusted pacifier to help her when she gets crabby! Angelina recently splurged on 3 pairs of J Brand jeans for Zahara at $120 each.” http://thebosh.com/archives/2007/06/brad_pitt_and_angelina_jolies_brood_diamond_pacifiers_designer_jeans.php
I don’t think these splurges completely negate the good Brangelina has brought into the world. When you have more, it’s easier to do more good. Though many privileged people don’t lead by example, Brangelina has done this more than some others, but these efforts can be noted with a grain of salt.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 am