Culture chock: flashing in the grocery store

There is an expression in French that says ”les extremes se touchent” translates to ”the extremes meet”. I have moved from a rather covered society to a more uncovered one.

Before moving to Australia in October 2012, we lived three years in Kuwait. Kuwait is a fairly traditional Muslim country; no alcohol, no pork, no gambling, no discos or nightclubs and preferably no bare shoulders, cleavage and short skirts on ladies. It was quite easy to obey the law and traditions of Kuwait. When it comes to the dress codes, I cannot say that I am entirely comfortable with a generous cleavage anyway. I prefer people to look in my eyes when they are talking to me. Sweden is known to be a liberal country, filled with girls with very little clothing. This is not true. Sure, the girls are wearing very short skirts, dresses and shorts during summer and their tops can be strapless but still, they ARE wearing clothes.

Australian females are usually wearing clothes too. Many are barefoot during the summer, only a few a barefoot now when autumn is here and cold winds are sweeping in from the South Pole. Surprisingly many dress after the sun; sunshine = shorts and t-shirt and no sun = pants and maybe even a sweater. Sunshine and 16C is not t-shirt weather in my opinion, but by all means, to each his own. I went grocery shopping yesterday. It was fairly cold in the morning so I put on my warm hiking shoes, jeans and a knitted pullover. I was just going to the grocery store after dropping the daughters in school. As I was walking down the aisle with cereals, coffee and té I met a lady who carried her baby in some kind of baby sling across her chest. Not a Baby Björn where the baby is sitting straight but one where s/he was laying down. I had to look again – the woman was actually multitasking: grocery shopping and breastfeeding at the same time. All of a sudden she screams ”ouch, you bit me darling!” and pulled out her milk reservoir out of the baby’s mouth and kept walking with her boob hanging there, uncovered for anyone to see. I was embarrassed on behalf of the lactating mother, or perhaps I should say INSTEAD of the lactating mother as she didn’t seem to have a problem with the fact that one of her boobs was out in the open. Perhaps this is the new generation of mothers, the flashing mothers, the ones who are always on the go and are highly efficient in their every day life? 

When it comes to my personal level of coverage I choose the Golden mean; not too much and not too little. But as always; to each his own. Whatever you’re comfortable with. 

                                        Grocery shopping Stepford style