Can you imagine how much trouble moms would be in (not to mention the difficulty they'd have), if the only breastfeeding resource we had was our television? We would be totally screwed, people, because if you take a look through the meagre pickings of forward-thinking shows that have bothered to even show a woman breastfeeding onscreen, you'll see almost as many times that TV got breastfeeding totally wrong.
Sometimes this is for a laugh; the producers of Friends, for example, apparently loved the idea of grown-ass men not being able to handle seeing a woman's breast without sexualizing it. Other times it's to drive the point of someone not being of sound mind, as in the case of Lysa Arryn, in Game of Thrones. Either way, sadly, the majority of the time breastfeeding is portrayed as "not OK," leaving many a breastfeeding mother to silently (or not so silently) wish the media would do a better job portraying a completely normal, natural and healthy act.
As a mother who breastfed both children (and worked through multiple problems in order to be successful), it drives me a little crazy to see negative breastfeeding stereotypes reinforced on mainstream television programs. Why do you think there's so much push back among the general populace, when women try to normalize breastfeeding or breastfeed in public without a cover? Could we maybe aim to get some positive representation happening in the media, so our breastfeeding lives could be a tad easier? Anyone? Bueller?
Well, until that day, all we have are ridiculous portrayals of breastfeeding to hang our figurative hats on. Yes, Pam from The Office did a great job of showing just how difficult breastfeeding could be, but here are five times when TV got breastfeeding totally wrong and completely failed mothers.