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Date: | Tue, 29 Oct 2002 18:00:31 -0800 |
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Canada has more liberal family leaves (1 year) but in reality it does not
reach the poorest and the richest parents. The poor ones often have not
reached the minimum hours required in the year before the leave. The
richest (drs and lawyers) worry about their patients/clients and their
career. However what we DO have is better than what we DID have.
Breastfeeding duration has been very positively affected in our community,
now mother's ask me about weaning at 10 or 11 months to return to be able
to return to work.
I would like to support the comments by Diane W and Barbara W-C. Working
within the political system to encourage legislative change lengthening
family leaves IS work in support of breastfeeding! Throwing our hands in
the air and saying there is no point as "it is our society" is no different
than those who say the same thing about our work supporting initiation of
breastfeeding after all isn't north american society a bottle feeding society?
Fortunately there are a significant number of partners that can work
together for family leave change. Note I said family leave. In my part of
the world parents often split the leave. That frequently works to support
breastfeeding as when the father is the caregiver he more likely to be
supportive of feeding expressed breastmilk or bringing the infant to the
mother during her breaks.
If you don't raise the issue of family leave at every available public
forum, or in letters to your representatives both local and national don't
expect change.
Partners in promoting the change can be labor organizations, family support
organizations, infant mental health groups, foundations and organizations
who have a mandate of promoting family friendly environments and
more. Just remember you are promoting family leave so it doesn't get
labelled a 'women's' issue... sigh
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