Just as womens wants, needs, desires, perceptions over the past century have
helped develop the way society now sees the "choices" of women and families
and those who influence workplace policy, the manner in which women now
present current needs can and will, over the next century, influence an
outcome in their favor.  We all do know that separation of mother and child
does not produce optimal conditions for breastfeeding.  IMO it's *that*
situation that needs to be addressed, whether or not we agree with the
circunstances of the separation.

Kathy wrote:
I certainly realize that not all occupations are safe or appropriate to
having the child physically with you.  But there is no reason why any of the
above-listed occupations can't have on-site child care and appropriate
breaks to breastfeed.  And bosses don't take kindly to these issues because
they don't think they are important, haven't done it themselves, haven't
seen anyone do it -- are basically afraid of what it might mean.  I broke
down the barriers in my own department because I had the courage...

MOST people do not realize that this, or something similar can work for many
types of jobs.  Not every woman has the gumption to do what Kathy did, but
most of us are likely to run into somebody like her whose situation, (even
clerical workers and sales people) would also lend opportunity in that
direction, recognize the combination, and be supportive of her.  I suspect
that if we view the information from all these women just as the needs of
the nursing dyad in respect to the workplace are discussed, most likely
patterns of behavior will emerge evident (not just the behavior of the
women) that can be analyzed and used by industrial engineers and human
resource managers. I believe that if there is data, solutions are more
forthcoming than in its absence.

I expect that attitudes will have to change from the top down to the
employees...all of them. While currently the most flexible positions are
usually awarded to those who have seniority in either time or position,
perhaps some industries (hospitality would be a likely one) will make use of
the rule that the employee with the youngest children get the most
flexibility, or their employees might best be served by extending "nursing
leave" to their employees, others by offering work at home options, job
sharing and part time options, and how about portable nursing/pumping
stations for off-site or construction workers.  Businesses of all types have
long relied on the "choice" of mothers to use ABM, and have, worked that
into their systems of operation.  And it can be frustrating to realize that
women have used the ABM option often enough over that last century to have
influenced these systems, that isn't to say that those women haven't been
misled. Had industrial engineers and personnel managers never had the
influence of feeding options for infants mixed in with other data used to
develop workplace wheels, we wouldn't be dealing with this situation now,
(but most likely would have others to deal with).

Analyzing and implementing those industry-specific needs could be a viable
expansion of lactation oriented carrers. A frequent question I get from
employers is, "How can this work for us?"  The people who are asking are not
necessarily asking about those women with desk jobs, but they want ideas
from somebody who has made it work; something other than instructions on how
to set up a pumping room. Most smart business people know that changes must
take place, but it would be better appreciated by the masses if they could
be shown how to best fit the nursing dyad into each scenario, *their*
business in particular.

Likewise, workable and enjoyable compromises can be worked into the lives of
women in a great number of work situations and walks of life.  I personally
have not seen this as an "elitist" prerogative, but rather reflective of the
woman's personal support system that includes the relationships she has
cultivated in her work environment.

Lorri Centineo

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html