Dear Katherine,

I am not sure how you have come to the conclusion that I was directing my
parting remarks at Dr. Ruowei Li.  At first in my post I was commenting on her
survey (I did know that Dr, Li is a woman) because I think it is absolutely
vital that we all realize that exclusivity in this survey included water feeding.
Thus, I do not believe that this survey was about exclusive breastfeeding.
Obviously, the CDC defines exclusive breastfeeding differently.  Studies,
surveys on infant feeding hinge on the concept of "exclusive" breastfeeding.  We
need to come to some kind of common ground in which we all know what we are
talking about when we discuss exclusive breastfeeding.

My comments on the infant formula, drug, and biotech industry (which was
under a new paragraph) were in no way directed at Dr. Li, her mothering (how would
I even know she was a mother?), her skills as a researcher or her support of
breastfeeding.  In fact I am floored by your comments and had to read and
reread your post and then mine to figure out what you meant.

The comment about "men, as usual, think they can do a better job than we can"
was directed at the biotechnological industry which seems to me to be a male
dominated industry.  This particular industry is about controlling nature but
ultimately it is about controlling female biology while calling it liberation.
 Science and medicine will liberate women from their biology.  I hope that
biotechnology is an equal opportunity employer and liberate men from their
biology.  Then we can call it "equality." It was a philosophical/personal comment.
I should have kept those comments to myself.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC


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