I would love to find some publications which address the human rights of
babies to be breastfed. Do you know of any? I am preparing a talk on the
politics of breastfeeding, and would love to touch on this topic as a part
of my lecture.
Thanks in advance --
Martha Johnson RN IBCLC
Eugene OR USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Magda Sachs [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2003 12:02 AM
Subject: bf rates in France and Ireland
In Arusha, at the WABA global forum, I attended the workshop on human rights
in infant feeding, led by George Kent. At one point I noticed with
fascination that the people arguing most passionately -- and in a sort of
horrified knee jerk fashion, as if they had never considered the possibilty
before -- against the idea that babies have a human right to be breastfed
(yeah, I bet some of you are feeling a bit of a twitch in the nether limbs)
were several delegates who happened to be from Ireland and from France. As
there were many Americans, and my pre-concieved ideas would have led me to
expect this reaction more from my countrypeople, I particularly noticed
this. Many of the African delegates had a very different take. Pamela
Morrison, an African, made a presentation at the top of the session which
challenged us to consider why the 7% of the world which enshrines 'choice'
is holding up the acknowledgement of the human rights of babies in this
matter, to the detriment of the other 93%. (Although we should acknowledge
that the whole concept of human rights is a western one).
Obviously the breastfeeding rates in Ireland and France are part of complex
social understandings about many, many things. They reflect the position of
women, the value of children, the sexualisation of body parts, the stage of
'modernisation' parts of those countries have reached, the realtionship of
the above to the catholic church, governement policy, the strength of
tradition and deference to neighbours, you name it. Turn most of these
around and you get the conditions that mean that almost all women in some
African societies initiate breastfeeding. Within Europe, parts of France
and of Ireland have the reputation of being very conservative (with a small
c) and resistant to change. Remember too that France practiced widescale
avoidance of breastfeeding starting in the 18th century (see Fildes, A
History of Wet Nursing and Yalom, A History of the Breast).
Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.478 / Virus Database: 275 - Release Date: 06/05/2003
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
============================================================
This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to
whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged,
confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal
laws. If you are not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the
intended addressee, you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy,
distribute, or disclose to anyone this message or the information contained
herein. If you have received this message in error, immediately advise the
sender by reply email and destroy this message.
============================================================
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
