Diane,
wrote: "Now if we can just get the "F-word itself introduced..."
And then Dee said:
I am wondering, do you mean as in "If a woman uses formula, it raises
their risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer."? In a class on advertising,
they taught not to use the "competition's" name because that put *that*
word/name/idea in the audience' mind. The only word/name/etc. you want to use in
advertising is the name of the thing you *want* the audience to use. If that
theory is still in use in the advertising field (and it might not be, times do
change), then I think the wording of the statement is probably the better way
to do it. Also, I still come across so many people (I live in the Midwest
[USA] and things are *so* slow to change here) who aren't comfortable using the
words "breast" and "breastfeeding". So if the word gets used over and over,
such as in the statement, perhaps those people will become de-sensitized and more
comfortable with the words. Then, if they can hear the word without
cringing, perhaps they would be willing to begin to entertain the idea of actually
*doing* it?
My experience, also in the Midwest USA (and rural midwest to boot which is even more repressed- I can say that because I was born and raised in the rural midwest ), is that when you are as bold as to begin talking about the "Risks of Formula" women here are just not comfortable with hearing that, even women who have professed to be interested in promoting breastfeeding. I started a Breastfeeding Coalition here with representatives from WIC, Univ of NE-Lincoln Extension Service, County Health Department, School Nurse from local school district and others, even a breastfeeding mother. As soon as I began suggesting that a possible goal for our group ought to be to inform mothers of the risks of "F" they no longer wanted to participate with the coalition. Very disheartening. I think women are just not ready for it to be stated so bluntly. It's too painful for them and hearing someone say it puts them on the defensive and they refuse to hear anymore (that was the reaction I got from some of the members of my now-defunct coalition). I think they interpret those words to be saying they aren't/weren't a good mother. Not using the statement "Risks of Formula" will no doubt slow the switch from a bottle-feeding culture to a breastfeeding one but I'm afraid using the "F" word could result in women becoming angry and defensive and they won't hear the message at all. With time, after hearing the "Risks of Not Breastfeeding" for awhile, women will become less defensive and more open to the idea that formula carries risk.......I hope anyway. A group that I think it would be beneficial to use the words "risks of formula" with is the young women and men who haven't had a child yet-school age children and young adults. They don't have anything to feel defensive about yet.
Sally Myer
McCook, NE
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