A few years ago a newly elected MP in the Victorian parliament had a new babe and needed to breastfeed. Not wanting to absent herself from the important business of the moment (whether parliamentary or infant-directed) she breastfed (discreetly) in the House. Parliament is a very male-dominated domain and there were (and still are) unreconstructed anachronisms like Bob in abundance, so the uproar was intense. Parliament got fitted with nappy-changing rooms and expressing facilities and everyone settled done to a much more mature set of behaviours.

Having been the partner of a shy woman, I know the thoughts that go through such women's minds about breastfeeding in public, but she always managed it comfortably for all concerned and nobody objected. I came to the opinion (yes Bob, I too have one, and surmise from your spelling of arsehole that you're not from the continent between the Atlantic and Pacific) that many men are quite self-centred in their view of breasts. Pun intended. They seem to have the notion that the only purpose of breasts is to titillate males and react according to their notion of the appropriateness of such titllation.

They seem to not understand that the primary function of mammaries in mammals is to nurture the young and that any other function is secondary. And although I have been very active in promulgating women's rights and was a dab hand at changing nappies (better than my partner, in fact) I don't regard myself as henpecked.

And if I can find it easy to appreciate the semiotics but ignore the content of ads for cars, alcohol and other supposedly male-oriented things I just as easily do the same for women's sanitary products. But my adolescent daughters might have a different appreciation.

Cheers, Rowan