When I saw this picture today, it was through the eyes of a group of bloggers in Los Angeles that personally knew the 26 year old mom in this photo, Jamie Lynne. I’ve personally never met or interacted with Jamie. I do think she is drop dead gorgeous and the picture definitely plays up all her “assets.”
These were my first honest impressions.
–Wait, that’s a 3 year old? He looks closer to six to me.
–Is he breastfeeding? Oh, he is. Why aren’t they more comfortable in a chair or something? That’s kinda weird.
–I have a feeling this is going to piss off moms at the grocery store when they have to explain this to their kids. Our culture isn’t like Europe. I hope she has her comment moderation on her blog.
–WTF was Time Magazine thinking? This is kinda disrespectful to extended breastfeeders. I’m wondering if she had the ability to approve this one?
–Holy Moly, I hope that kid has a good sense of humor when he gets older. I see loads of teasing in his future.
–Oh, boy. This is going to cause a shit storm. That’s FO SHO.
As you can see, I wasn’t offended by how old he was and still breastfeeding. I’m supportive of extended breastfeeders. I am however very concerned with how this picture is portraying that crowd. When I picture a woman breastfeeding a child that is older than two years old, I’m not picturing Jamie. Seeing Jamie standing there looking very sexy threw me off a bit. And that is just being honest.
From what I’ve heard, Time Magazine has been losing subscriptions and newsstand sales for years now. The most recent report I could find was with the New York Times stating that newsstand sales were down 34.9% in 2010, which is a better indicator than subscriptions because it’s more timely and relevant. That’s pretty understandable because people go online for their news now. At least everyone I know does. So to me we have a really good example of Time Magazine fighting for relevance in a crowded space. The internet is now king.
I think this issue is surrounded with LOADS of additional important issues such as our economy, how the magazine industry is changing because of the rise of the internet, how breastfeeding is becoming the norm and the backlash against formula companies, how “moms” online are getting a reputation for fighting and now magazines are trying to capitalize on that, how images like this can incite an emotional response that everyone must recognize as relevant, etc. I mean things like this are like a car wreck…you HAVE to look. Even if you don’t want to share your opinion, you will have one.
Time Magazine is going for newsstand sales. We all know it. It’s obvious, but we all have to talk about it and write about it. Everyone has a take about this. One thing I’d like to say is….
Can we all just get along?
It’s Mother’s Day weekend YO!
#thatisall
Yes, I think we can all get along… but that won’t sell magazines.
I also had to post about this train wreck…
http://www.5minutesformom.com/55755/mommy-wars-do-not-exist/
I wrote about this, too (http://www.lindsayblogs.com/2012/05/10/the-mommy-wars/) but I have a different look at it than Susan. I don’t have a problem with the cover or extended breastfeeding. What I have a problem with is the argumentative tone of the cover and the insinuation that this (or any other) mom is doing “it” better than any other.
Ahem, at the risk if being a guy and weighing in on this….
Working in traditional media, first thing I saw was a sales stunt. Second, like Leah the fact that kid looks old enough to cut and eat his own steak. Third, she’s really pretty… Oh yeah, stunt. And last? Well, it wasn’t what I saw but the silly behind statements from other guys, namely something being perverse about this and the question of whether or not there’s some erotic payoff for mommy when she breast feeds that long. I kid you not! And this from men I work with who I would normally consider to be VERY intelligent, well read and well informed. After watching my own wife breast feed all three of our children, I did have something to say about that… But, my how far we have yet to go in this country when it comes to honoring and understanding mom. Smh
I also have to say I wasn’t as shocked by the image as I was by the headline. The words “Mom” and “Enough” don’t need to be accompanied by a question mark.
I thought it was very divisive. Without reading the article, I also took it to be a slag on extended breastfeeding. Never thought of the kiddos who will see this in the check-out line and start asking questions. Good point. One of my good friends commented, “Who needs a stool? I could have stood and nursed my kids as they laid on the floor.” Ha! Jamie is quite perky!