The Power of Celebrity

Angelina Jolie is being called a role model for new mothers because she appears on the cover of W magazine breastfeeding one of her newborn twins.

"I think it is fabulous. Seeing a celebrity like Angelina Jolie breast-feed can be a role model to encourage women to make a choice that is wonderful for their baby," said Andi Silverman, mom of two and author of "Mama Knows Breast."

"Breasts are used to sell all sorts of products, so to see them used the way nature intended can only be a great thing," Silverman told Reuters.

But Dr. Shannon Fox warns of a potential problem.

"The problem is that she is also an international sex symbol. So whether or not she says 'This is a beautiful way of nurturing my baby', every man who sees that photo will see those breasts as sexual."

Well, not all men, but we do have a problem in America, where over the past 50 years our women's breasts have been objectified as masturbatory fodder in magazines and movies, thus conditioning young minds to view them primarily for sexual stimulus. Most images of natural nudity and breastfeeding have been relegated to documentaries and National Geographic magazine, this creating a cultural divide which fosters the perception that these basic human activities are practiced only by the uncivilized.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt should be commended for releasing these intimate photos that many people take themselves, but rarely share. With one magazine cover, Jolie has undoubtedly given countless new mothers inspiration.

Here's hoping that someday nudism will be equally embraced by the power of celebrity.

Click on the following link to see photos of mothers who are proud to be breastfeeding their children and want the world to know.

The Celebrity Baby Blog Breastfeeding Gallery

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