There's no consensus yet about the wisdom of a Spanish toy company making a doll that simulates breastfeeding. If consensus does eventually solidify, hopefully it won't be around Joy Behar's take. For "The View" host, the doll is a direct attack on feminism.
The doll, Baby Gloton ("gluttonous baby"), is sold with a halter top for the owner to wear, embedded with computer chips where a woman's nipples would be. When held to the chest, the baby moves its lips and makes a sucking sound. When moved away, the baby cries or can be "burped" like a live baby would be after a feeding.
"You know, to me, it's like programming little girls for their future. You know, just in case you want to have a career, no," Behar stated in her opposition to the doll. She offered her own experience as proof of this "programming." "I always played with dolls so when I became a woman I wanted a baby. But I think that had to do with that," Behar explained.
Behar didn't appear to think that biology or the motherly instinct many women have had any role in her desire to become a mother.
Host Barbara Walters offered Behar's co-panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck as an example that women can have a career and breastfeed. Hasselbeck, nine months pregnant with her third child, chimed in, "You can breast-feed and have a kid. You can open a briefcase. You can do both."
Hasselbeck expressed some concern about the sound effects and the motion of the doll's mouth, but otherwise appeared nonchalant about the concept. She noted, "Grace [her 4-year-old daughter] will pretend to breastfeed because she'll see me do it. And I think that's fine."
But co-panelist Sherri Shepherd harbored doubts. "I know that little girls pretend and little boys pretend but I just don't know if I want to see Grace with this baby up sucking on her - something's weird about -," she said. Later she reiterated her stance. "It's just the visual is just a little creepy for me."
Argument against the doll in other media outlets varied. FOXNews.com health editor Dr. Manny Alvarez, supports breastfeeding, but said a doll such as this could have unintended effects. "Pregnancy has to entail maturity and understanding. It's like introducing sex education in first grade instead of seventh or eighth grade. Or, it could inadvertently lead little girls to become traumatized. You never know the effects this could have until she's older."
For others, such as blogger Ilina Ewen, the doll is beyond the maturity of the children for which it's marketed. "There are just things that I think kids are too little to understand," she told ABCNews.com.
Dr. Ronald Cohen, medical director of the Mothers' Milk Bank in San Jose, told ABC News "that anything which reminds young girls that their bodies are something other, and more, than sex objects, is a very good thing" but he also noted, "On the other hand, encouraging young girls to want to have babies at a very young age may not be so great."
But Jillian Bandes, political reporter for Townhall, put the doll's propriety in the proper context: it depends on the parents who allow their children to play with the toy. She argued, "If parents purchase the doll for more-mature children and educate them on the nature of breastfeeding and the need for privacy in the comfort of their own homes, perhaps the toy could be a bit of resource."
But for Behar to claim the doll limits little girls' career options is beyond the pale when women from all walks of life, for whatever the reasons, have successfully juggled motherhood and work.
—Colleen Raezler is a research assistant at the Culture and Media Institute




















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My Lord
August 7, 2009 - 12:38 ET by jdlybrandImagine the concept of a woman who would actually want a baby. Thank goodness for social hypnosis; otherwise none of us would be here talking about this. <sarc off>
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
"I always played with dolls
August 7, 2009 - 12:39 ET by SickofLibs"I always played with dolls so when I became a woman I wanted a baby."
Aha! I've always suspected he'd had gender reassignment surgery.
Behar ain't exactly a role model
August 7, 2009 - 12:51 ET by GalvanicForget the dolls.
What about young girls watching The View Mon-Fri, and learning that in order to be on TV and make a lot of money, you have to sit around a table and bitch for an hour?
Behar is a Train Wreck
August 7, 2009 - 13:13 ET by allanfNothing tells girls more loudly to stay at home than an angry train wreck like Behar.
double Post
August 8, 2009 - 01:16 ET by Rush Fandouble Post
You've got to admit that Joy Behar is a hot babe, even if you
August 8, 2009 - 01:16 ET by Rush Fandon't agree with her opinions or politics. Speaking of models, wasn't Joy a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model in her earlier day? (; >)
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"...if you're an ugly woman, you're probably a Progressive as well" ~ Glenn Beck
Teach the Children Well
August 7, 2009 - 12:55 ET by CobraManWhat's wrong with teaching children how to breast feed? We've been told for decades now that breast feeding is best, and by the very same people who are now complaining about a toy teaching girls how to breast feed!
So, if breast feeding is best, isn't even better to teach potential mother's how to breast feed? What better teaching method is there than by using a toy?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
So that explains it
August 7, 2009 - 13:08 ET by BarkerLittle Joy Behar had a pet pig.
Dolls? It's slightly more
August 7, 2009 - 13:12 ET by PeskyDaneDolls? It's slightly more complicated, and goes just a little bit deeper than that.
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Genesis 30: 1-2
This kind of shrill bitterness is echoed by the many women...
August 7, 2009 - 13:14 ET by wnaegele...who swallowed the whole "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" philosophy -- and end up aging harridans with wombs that are empty and hearts filled with bile. ALSO, see "Palin Derangement Syndrome" [PDS].
August 7, 2009 - 13:22 ET by jessieHLooks like Behar played with dolls a lot as a child. Angry Mobster
~Both my little girls
August 7, 2009 - 13:28 ET by choselife3xPretend to nurse their dolls because they see me feeding their little brother. Nursing your baby is the most natural thing in the world.
The only women I've ever encountered who had a problem with it were ones that either didn't have any children of their own, or old women who bottle-fed their babies. I'll just call it "lactation-envy".
That said, little girls don't need an electronic baby to pretend to feed it. What else is an imagination for?
America is waking up, sing louder. http://www.youtube.c...
abortion
August 7, 2009 - 13:35 ET by sevenThe feminists that oppose breast feeding also often support abortion. They don't make good mothers.
Erbe? Jeaneanne Grrrrrarrifallo? Behar? Whoopi? Mom material? Not really.
~There ya go!
August 7, 2009 - 13:52 ET by choselife3xThe women that support abortion think breast-feeding is gross. Astounding. I look 'em in the eye and say "I gave birth at home without a doctor and I'll be home-schooling them, too." Steam comes out of their ears.
I cook, bake, dust, sew, knit, crochet, do my own taxes, grow my own vegetables, run a business out of my home, and I'm a dead shot at 30 yards.
Bwahahahahahahahaha....KMA, bitter old liberal hags!
America is waking up, sing louder. http://www.youtube.c...
chooselife I have new
August 7, 2009 - 14:35 ET by Radical1979chooselife I have new respect for you, giving birth at home! I was one of those wimpy "give me drugs" women!! Of course my first child was a c-section so I needed them for that, but still, I do admire you!
As for the dead shot thing, if I didn't live in the suburbs and could get out shooting more I might be able to challenge you in that department! Alas, for now it ain't gonna happen.
~Hey girl!
August 7, 2009 - 21:37 ET by choselife3xI had the first one in the hospital (at the hubby's insistence, he'd seen too many episodes of ER) and that was enough for me! I got there with 10 minutes to spare and swore I'd never get in a car while in labor again.
Second two were a breeze, just stayed home, relaxed, one push for #2 and three pushes for #3. Showered and went back to bed. I'm my own midwife.
Don't think of yourself as wimpy, labor can be the most painfully intense experience imaginable. I might've accepted drugs the first time if I'd gotten to the hospital sooner! It was 5 hours of torture, contractions every three minutes from the start, tossed my cookies three times. Trial by fire, so to speak.
I live in the city, but there's an indoor range about 15 minutes away. :-)
America is waking up, sing louder.
http://www.youtube.c...
I'm
August 7, 2009 - 13:38 ET by Wesenexcited about this technology. The maker needs to create multiple humaniods that can be placed around the generous nipples of a sow pig. They can call the little recipients the "gimme people" and the pig of course is Aunt SAM.
I don't think the technology for the doll is helpful or needed, just look at made-up 10 year old girls and tell me they needed this when they were 5.
Wesen... Good points...I
August 7, 2009 - 13:45 ET by bigtimerWesen...
Good points...I especially agree with your last sentence.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Behar
August 7, 2009 - 14:30 ET by GothampcI think one of Behar's problems is that she's been taught to think opposite of nature. Women have babies because they have the instinct to care for them. If men had babies, they'd end up trying to feed the rear end and diaper the head.
Why is it that liberals are so against life? Abortion, assisted suicide, healthcare that lets seasoned citizens die rather than get care, chucking a woman's role as mother. What's up with all the extinction thinking?
Children
August 7, 2009 - 16:17 ET by LorraineIt used to be considered normal when children imiated their parents - ironing, mowing, taking care of babies.
It's nice to see breasts being promoted for what they were intended to do, instead of just items of lust for men during wet T-shirt contests. Babies aren't born with bottles after all.
And how the hell would this "traumatize" a little girl? Imitating her mother breast-feeding is a traumatic experience? What a twisted world on the left.
"Babies aren't born with bottles after all."
August 7, 2009 - 21:11 ET by WesenA truer statement was never uttered. For some women it takes a real "lusty" man to accomplish the task. I've never been to a wet t-shirt contest, what happens there? Anyway, I wouldn't let one of them come between my wife and myself.
c'mon dude "I've never
August 8, 2009 - 15:56 ET by red_dragon311c'mon dude
"I've never been to a wet t-shirt contest, what happens there?"
if you have never been to one, fine i can totaly understand that...it's the "whats happens there?" that shocks me
what do you think happens, young women wear t-shirts and they get wet.....really what more do you need to know.
FINALY A REAL CANDIATE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!
http://zod2008.com/index.htm
You can only imagine…
August 7, 2009 - 18:37 ET by needleReading through this article I could not avoid a variety of thoughts about what Joy Behar's childhood might have been like. However, as decency is promoted at this site (Thank Goodness!), I am stuck in the situation where I must self-censor those thoughts. Darn, what a predicament!
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
To be a liberal, the
August 7, 2009 - 20:13 ET by moderncommentaries83To be a liberal, the following has to make sense:
Male/female gender roles, especially the desire of women to be mothers, are purely social constructs. But homosexuality - and every other sexual proclivity - are immutable, ingraned biological desires that cannot be questioned or changed. EVER.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
And if the liberals were
August 7, 2009 - 20:26 ET by Radical1979And if the liberals were right there would be no children, and those that were born would be abandonded by their mothers, and we would be extinct. Liberals are idiots.
Um, yeah. You pretty much
August 7, 2009 - 21:01 ET by moderncommentaries83Um, yeah.
You pretty much get my point.
Of course, a liberal would blather on about the "patriarchy" and "heteronormative oppression" and whatever other modern-day pyscho babble they can come up with to explain why women had babies for eons. Because it certainly wasn't in their nature.
Oh, and remember, that it's conservatives who are anti-science and anti-reason.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
If you don't mind i think
August 8, 2009 - 16:22 ET by red_dragon311If you don't mind i think i found my new sig