Dear all:
Thanks to Gonneke for clarifying something I was going to say as well. I DELIBERATELY
gave one example of a health care practitioner and one quotation about a mother for
good reason. It doesn't matter what type of health care practitioner you are or even if
you are a well-meaning lay person dispensing advice. If you give advice that results in an
adverse outcome you are responsible for your actions. We should take this responsibility
seriously whatever our backgrounds. I do not believe that there is an excuse for WILLFUL
ignorance. And, I do believe that any professional should take responsibility for updating
their own knowledge to the best of their abilities.
The bottom line is that if we are advising others, regardless of our backgrounds, we have
a responsibility to do the best job possible to first, do no harm. And we should all,
regardless of background we have. If an entire profession is constructed in such a way
that it does not promote continual updating of knowledge that is "EVIDENSE-BASED,
CONFLICT OF INTEREST FREE, AND EXPERIENCE-BASED" and excuses itself for not doing
so because there isn't enough time, energy, money, etc. Then it is time for that
profession, whatever it is, to take a good serious look at the organizational structure and
fix it. Again, I think this applies to just about any profession that would be dispensing
advice to mothers and babies where it may affect their later health, survival, and
wellbeing.
I also have to completely disagree with the model that we should never be allowed to
express anger. This is something that has opressed countless groups who have been
disempowered throughout the ages. It is perfectly fine to feel angry and, in fact, we
should feel angry, about the injustices done to others who have less power. The
difference is in how you use that anger constructively to build something better. Using
the excuse that it is not "professional", "ladylike", etc.... supply your own words .... to
feel anger is not realistic, nor has it been the norm for many "empowered groups". Often
"empowered groups" do feel perfectly free to express their anger freely and then turn on
those who have less power which such excuses when they don't comply. And just
because you are disempowered in one circumstance, does not mean that you are not the
"empowered" in other circumstances.
To give an example outside our hotly debated lactation sphere --- take my son's
elementary school. The bottom of the rung is the underpaid aides that have to monitor
the children during lunch and recess. Parents, teachers, and principals are always telling
them what to do. Plus, cutbacks have reduced the number of positions to 1/4 of what
they once were. As a result, they no longer listen to what they are told when they are in
the playground with the children. They take recess away from entire classes even though
a few children are the ones who cause the problems (and probably actually most need
recess) --- and they continue to do this despite what the principal says. Then if you look
at the children, they are not always the victims either. My son figured out how to get
around an aide who told him he couldn't go back to the classroom to get the lunch he
forgot. He simply went over to the principal and asked her in front of the aide and the
principal said yes.
Instead of using the model that we all must be nice and get along (which has often been
shoved down the throats of the disempowered), I suggest you use your anger wisely to
build something better. Women in the United States did not always have the right to
vote, nor did African Americans. It was channeled anger that made changes.
Best regards,
Susan E. Burger
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