On Wed, 21 Jun 1995, Tina Smillie MD wrote:
> This is another soapbox issue of mine, because I think breastfeeding is very
> definitely a feminist issue. It is too late at night for me to get onto this
> soapbox.  But to me, at the root of our low breastfeeding rates, is women's
> distrust of their own bodies, their buy-in to the idea that their breasts
> exist primarily to help them attract/please a mate, but that their role in
> nurturing the next generation is insignificant-- i.e., that women's bodies
> are unimportant in their own right, and only important in realtionship to
> men's perception of them.
        Thank you, Tina.  I agree with you that breast feeding is
definitely a feminist issue.  I have not read enough about feminists
idea, but I cannot stop feeling that some feminist idea actually ignore
women's body given by our nature.


> Marsha Walker said there are three general themes apparent in today's
> society: patriarchy, commercialism, and technology. Breastfeeding is counter
> to all three of these major cultural themes, and without this cultural
> support, it is no wonder we're facing these mammoth issues.
>
        I read the themes with great interests.  Actually, people in
general are influenced by created images by our patriarchal society
(including medicine and technology) and commercialism.  If we do not
question those idea, we do not know what is real to us.  Feminist idea
also affect women's thinking.

> And, Noriko, I haven't even scratched the surface of this feminist thing.
>  what about the feminists who think that bottle feeding is freeing them from
> female household drudgery so they can work fulltime in the more important
> world of men, because oldfashioned women's work is too biologically defined
> and family centered. That's a whole issue in and of itself.  don't get me
> started...
        Yes, it is happening to my country.  A famous singer in Japan did not
nurse her baby because it affects her career and shape of her breasts.
I mean the power of media is so great.  If there are more women denying
breast feeding, more women tend to think that the opinion is right.
I really don't think working at the outside of household equally as men
do freed women.  If women start neglecting their body and the nature,
what kind of society we are creating?  I did not say women should stay in
the household.  But, we can gain autonomy, independency, and meaning of
life from anywhere.

> Enough already. G'night. tina
Yes, have a good sleep, Tina.  I like to hear more of your idea regarding
feminism, and I think some of these idea have created today's women's
idea, IMHO.

Sincerely,
Noriko Kito <[log in to unmask]>