No differences of opinion on public breastfeeding
I think there's good reason why there isn't room being given in some quarters for a difference of opinion on public breastfeeding.
As you explore lactivism , you find a lot in common with union movements--solidarity being quite an important component. There's a feeling in lactivism that all breastfeeding mothers should stick up for each other, especially against perceived injustices done against a lactating mother. Period.
What I hear from those objecting to public protest in support of breastfeeding mothers' rights, and what I know some of the breastfeeding mothers are hearing is little different than "as long as you're discreet." "As long as you're discreet" implies that openly pulling your breast out in a public place and popping a nipple in a baby's mouth is a delicate act that needs to be hidden from view. For a mother who doesn't believe that it needs to be hidden from view, there is no room for a difference of opinion on that when it begins to inhibit her from comfortably doing so.
So, I think there's a feeling of shock on the part of some breastfeeding mothers that there are still women who breastfeed out there who won't stick up for the personal choices of any breastfeeding mother, even if that breastfeeding mother goes further than you personally would go. That's just shocking.
I think there's a feeling of shock that discreteness, propriety, and decorum are being given such value in regard to breastfeeding. People believe that a call for discreteness from breastfeeding mothers or from people fighting for the rights of breastfeeding mothers is no different than the mindset of walking up to a mother in the first place and asking her to put a blanket over her breast. Since asking for discretion in breastfeeding is what people are protesting, why should there be no room given for an opinion asking for discretion in speaking up.
Personally, I think many of the objectors are being excessively concerned about propriety and decorum and would have been in just as much of an uproar against skirts showing knees or 2-piece swimsuits in the 40's, and the arguments being made are no different than the arguments that were made against those changes.
As you explore lactivism , you find a lot in common with union movements--solidarity being quite an important component. There's a feeling in lactivism that all breastfeeding mothers should stick up for each other, especially against perceived injustices done against a lactating mother. Period.
What I hear from those objecting to public protest in support of breastfeeding mothers' rights, and what I know some of the breastfeeding mothers are hearing is little different than "as long as you're discreet." "As long as you're discreet" implies that openly pulling your breast out in a public place and popping a nipple in a baby's mouth is a delicate act that needs to be hidden from view. For a mother who doesn't believe that it needs to be hidden from view, there is no room for a difference of opinion on that when it begins to inhibit her from comfortably doing so.
So, I think there's a feeling of shock on the part of some breastfeeding mothers that there are still women who breastfeed out there who won't stick up for the personal choices of any breastfeeding mother, even if that breastfeeding mother goes further than you personally would go. That's just shocking.
I think there's a feeling of shock that discreteness, propriety, and decorum are being given such value in regard to breastfeeding. People believe that a call for discreteness from breastfeeding mothers or from people fighting for the rights of breastfeeding mothers is no different than the mindset of walking up to a mother in the first place and asking her to put a blanket over her breast. Since asking for discretion in breastfeeding is what people are protesting, why should there be no room given for an opinion asking for discretion in speaking up.
Personally, I think many of the objectors are being excessively concerned about propriety and decorum and would have been in just as much of an uproar against skirts showing knees or 2-piece swimsuits in the 40's, and the arguments being made are no different than the arguments that were made against those changes.
posted by Solomon | 9:47 AM
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