And it's getting tiresome.
Really it's just plain offensive, as are variations like "Breastapo". Godwin's Law if you're not familiar with it is worth a read.
Mafia is no better:
Nope, not many breastfeeding mums tick those boxes either.
What also confuses me is where these "breastfeeding militants" are hiding? They must be super covert.
A flick through the press offerings include this, this and this and there have been more I haven't bookmarked.
So where exactly are all the articles that supposedly call formula "poison", written by these "judgy mummies"? How often do they feature in the press?
Sure we might get the odd piece from the perspective of a breastfeeding mother, but they only make the cut if they're respectful and understanding towards non breast feeders, ie when did you see an article referring to the formula feeding fascists or beady eyed bottle users?
And rightly so.
But this rule doesn't work both ways.
Just last year, Singer Lily Allen (one of the few I thought was really cool up until this point) tweeted:
A flick through the press offerings include this, this and this and there have been more I haven't bookmarked.
So where exactly are all the articles that supposedly call formula "poison", written by these "judgy mummies"? How often do they feature in the press?
Sure we might get the odd piece from the perspective of a breastfeeding mother, but they only make the cut if they're respectful and understanding towards non breast feeders, ie when did you see an article referring to the formula feeding fascists or beady eyed bottle users?
And rightly so.
But this rule doesn't work both ways.
Just last year, Singer Lily Allen (one of the few I thought was really cool up until this point) tweeted:
"I'm not going to breastfeed."Replies that followed included:
"Let's hope the breastfeeding Nazi aren't following!"
Before Lilly replied:
"I have every intention of breastfeeding, just fancied antagonising the milk mafia"The tag line for this story read: "Lily Allen's wicked sense of humour caused a mini Twitter uproar yesterday"
Yeah....Wicked.....Sigh
How hilarious this is even vaguely socially acceptable.
Think that's bad enough? These comments are echoed by a DOCTOR, a registered Healthcare Practitioner.
Check his tweets:
When someone replied to his Tweet with the following:
The link to this post you are reading now - about how calling people Militant isn't perhaps the nicest idea... Doctor Christian replied:
And there's me thinking I have an evidence based blog, and that was precisely why a couple of Doctors followed it - interestingly none of whom I've ever heard name call.
More perplexing is that what more evidence would Doctor Christian like that people call us "militants" - than his own blog tweet? I'm not sure there are any studies exploring the percentage of people who name call breastfeeders....
But - just in case you're wondering if perhaps he's having an off day and you should give him the benefit of the doubt. It seems having a lil rant about breastfeeders is something Doctor Christian has done before - last June, again on Twitter to be precise:
Doesn't it strike anyone else as rather unprofessional?
(more of Doctor Christian's tweets at the end)
Imagine if the comments read exactly the same but, the words "breastfeeding" or "milk" were replaced with race, religion or sexuality - it would be completely unacceptable. But whilst it's not politically correct to name call most - breastfeeders are fair game; it's clearly considered funny!
Why not stop for a moment and consider just how breastfeeding unfriendly our culture is.
We have debates and see polls online and on TV shows discussing whether it's OK for mothers to feed their baby milk of their own species, in the way it was intended to be delivered, in public - with some stating that it's akin to taking a dump.
Where are the debates and polls discussing whether it's OK to bottle feed in public? When did Nascar driver Kasey Kahne tweet that he was grossed out by seeing someone bottle feed in public?
When are photos of bottle feeding considered obscene? Heck Facebook recently deleted photos of a toddler pretending to breastfeed her doll as it felt even they were unacceptable.
When a breastfeeding doll was released, how discussion raged across the web as to whether this was "appropriate"? How many dolls you can buy come with bottles and/or pacifiers? Children have play kitchens, washing machines, prams, dolls - all to emulate adult life, this is how children learn we are told, through play. Except of course when it comes to infant feeding - then the plastic bottle is the norm.
Where are the special "bottle feeding rooms", that non breastfeeding mothers are expected to use rather than the main facilities?
Where are the "bottle feeding covers", to ensure modesty when using a replica breast and nipple?
When did it hit the news a mother was asked to stop bottle feeding or leave somewhere for bottle feeding in public? Would this judge have had a meltdown in court if it had been a bottle not breast?
When did someone suggest bottle feeding was sexual or they should stop having a teat once they have teeth, that to continue beyond that with a bottle was purely for your enjoyment?
Where are the debates and polls discussing whether it's OK to bottle feed in public? When did Nascar driver Kasey Kahne tweet that he was grossed out by seeing someone bottle feed in public?
When are photos of bottle feeding considered obscene? Heck Facebook recently deleted photos of a toddler pretending to breastfeed her doll as it felt even they were unacceptable.
When a breastfeeding doll was released, how discussion raged across the web as to whether this was "appropriate"? How many dolls you can buy come with bottles and/or pacifiers? Children have play kitchens, washing machines, prams, dolls - all to emulate adult life, this is how children learn we are told, through play. Except of course when it comes to infant feeding - then the plastic bottle is the norm.
Where are the special "bottle feeding rooms", that non breastfeeding mothers are expected to use rather than the main facilities?
Where are the "bottle feeding covers", to ensure modesty when using a replica breast and nipple?
When did it hit the news a mother was asked to stop bottle feeding or leave somewhere for bottle feeding in public? Would this judge have had a meltdown in court if it had been a bottle not breast?
When did someone suggest bottle feeding was sexual or they should stop having a teat once they have teeth, that to continue beyond that with a bottle was purely for your enjoyment?
As one mum on Facebook said:
"I have been called an exhibitionist, disgusting, perverted, accused of harming my child, told to go hide in a bathroom/closet, & alienated from family situations because of breastfeeding."How many bottle feeders have received pressure to just pack up and "give a breast" when things have been tough? You were breastfed and you are fine! Give a breast it will help him sleep better...
An NCT survey of 1200 women found 65 percent didn't even intend to try breastfeeding because they felt too self-conscious about people staring at them.
There is a huge pressure to be "discreet", which given nature stuck breasts right on the front of us, and babies don't realise social graces - can be difficult!
I've blogged here about the passive support women receive, where they are simply told to stick at it, before this shifts to "you've tried long enough now supplement" - without any help featuring in the equation at all!
Our society so firmly holds not breastfeeding as the norm, that 99% of studies write from the perspective of formula as the basis for comparison. Breastfeeding holds benefit X or reduces risks of Y. It's upside down.
Out of those that managed to breastfed as long as they wanted, how many had it tough yet are not allowed to verbalise their pleasure at continuing - otherwise they are accused of making those who didn't feel bad, or they're smug?
Yet the Daily Telegraph ran an article last year headed:
"Breastfeeding: Protect us from the Breastapo"Crikey - breast pumps at the ready ladies!
It seems now that anyone vaguely pro breastfeeding or who feeds in public, or who decides not to use a bottle <sharp intake of breath>, earns this militant badge - it isn't just given to those who are judgemental or who do not understand the politics of breastfeeding, and how everything is actually stacked against mothers succeeding.
Labelling the majority because of the actions of a few fuels prejudice, and frankly it's only serving to make all mums feel uncomfortable.
Further discussion with Doctor Christian on Twitter:
@efaitch also commented:
"How did I prove his point beautifully? I was also polite too. I also tweeted that I'm not a lactivist (either), I'm a mother who's providing the best that I can for my children. I don't think that I could trust a doctor who as he himself is in a "minority" (homosexual) can put others into a minority and label them as forcing others to breastfeed - I really wish that someone could've forced me to breastfeed my daughter... if only there was such support!
It's really riled me that he has no consideration for people who are trying to do their best for their children. I was devastated that I couldn't access the support that I needed to breastfeed my DD. Only sheer bloody mindedness helped me successfully feed my son. I felt guilty that *I* had failed. Nobody AT ALL made me feel guilty. So, as a formula feeding mother *and* a breastfeeding mother, I'm able to see things from both/all angles. But, because I was able to succeed 2nd time round, I'm also classed as a militant..."
No comments:
Post a Comment