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Alyssa Milano Just Took Down an Unexpected Breastfeeding Shamer

January 7th 2016

Actress and well-known breastfeeding advocate Alyssa Milano just defended public breastfeeding to Wendy Williams on "The Wendy Williams Show."

Williams began the conversation by discussing the backlash Milano received for posting a breastfeeding photo to Instagram late last month. After Milano said that it wasn't even the most revealing breastfeeding photo she has ever posted, Williams revealed that she doesn't agree with the act of breastfeeding in front of others, even though she's a mother herself.

RELATED: People Are Loving Alyssa Milano's Daring Breastfeeding Post

"I don't need to see that," Williams said. "I just don't want to."

When Milano asked if Williams would enjoy eating meals under a blanket as some babies are forced to do when their mothers are shamed for public breastfeeding, Williams said she would simply go to the car to feed her baby.

You can check out the full conversation here:

 


Milano then referred to a photo of Miley Cyrus wearing thin suspenders over her breasts to highlight the hypocritical way society views breasts.

Miley suspendersWendy Williams Show Facebook - facebook.com

"Why is it OK to show that picture of Miley Cyrus with two suspenders over her breasts and it's not OK [to show breastfeeding]?" Milano said.

Williams added that breasts are inherently sexual, to which Milano pointed out that breasts were designed to feed children and aren't just here to turn others on.

"They're more sexual than a feeding thing," Williams said. "I don't know why I feel this way. I'm a mom also, but you know, breastfeeding is only a particular thing. The rest of your life, your breasts are sexual things."

Milano fired back by saying that this is an attitude society has adopted overtime even though breasts are for babies. She added that breastfeeding views are more accepting in certain communities around the globe.

RELATED: Alyssa Milano's Halloween Costume Had A Great Feminist Message

"All over the world, you're the not norm," Milano said. "You're lucky the baby's not here. I'd whip [my breasts] out right here and feed [my baby] on your show."

Milano also said she never expected to become a breastfeeding advocate on social media but that she's honored to hold the role.

"I was surprised that [after I posted my breastfeeding photo], I was then put in this position of being a breastfeeding advocate, which I love and I take that job with a lot of responsibility, but it was kind of shocking that we were that opinionated about something that's supposed to be so incredibly natural," she said.

Late last year, Milano penned a TIME article about the importance of normalizing breastfeeding and breaking away from the sexualization of breasts.

"Normalizing breastfeeding will be a lot more effective in advancing women’s issues and desexualizing breasts," Milano wrote. "Yes, they’re pretty. And yes, they have a purpose in women’s sexuality. But their main purpose is to feed another human."

For more on the fight to normalize breastfeeding, check out this video from ATTN:

 

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