I found these posts very amusing. It appears that Alexis is arguing
terminology - happily, the way she defines advocacy, LLL is doing a great
job with mothers!!!!
I think that most of you, including Alexis knows what I am REALLY talking
about. Alexis knows full well that I help mothers to 'advocate' for
themselves, in the best way possible, but NOT as a mechanism for furthering
a cause. In a manner that helps the individual mother to resolve her
situation to her satisfaction. In a manner that educates, and wins people
over, and does not come across as 'demanding her rights'.
Let me tell you why this is a sore spot for me. Several organizations out
there (and I am not even talking right now about breastfeeding ones) tell
their members that they have to advocate for the cause over the individual
mother's rights. That if they are going to be making a legal argument that
'hurts the cause' that they cannot do so, and will be shunned from the
organization.
I have also seen mothers make total messes out of their legal causes by
'advocating for the cause' rather than focusing on their case. A good
example is in a divorce situation where a mother asserts her 'right' to
engage in extended breastfeeding or the family bed, making the 'cause' the
issue, rather than addressing and dealing with the concerns that are
raised. There may be a fine line between 'advocating for a cause' and
dealing with an issue in an appropriate way, and it may not involve the
mother doing anything different other than looking at how she expresses things.
The reason why I try to tone all of you down over the advocacy idea is that
I do NOT want to encourage mothers to go charging into the workplace
demanding their rights - or they will have plenty of rights to assert in
court. Instead I want mothers to go into the workplace with a calm, NICE,
informative approach, that 'we can work this out', with the mother focusing
more on what will work and how she is going to get them to go along with
it, rather than going in and burning bridges.
>For those of you looking for an outlet for your advocacy skills, look to
>your local Breastfeeding Coalition or Task Force and if you don't have one,
>start one. Let me know if you need assistance in starting one. I can help.
> The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is doing incredible
>work here in Los Angeles.
Yea, Alexis! Now we are on the same page!!! THIS is advocacy!
Liz
Elizabeth N. Baldwin Baldwin & Friedman, P.A.
Phone: 954-966-7110 Office: 305-944-9100 x233
Fax: 954-966-9796 Office fax: 305-940-8544
Breastfeeding and the Law: http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html
Website: http://www.compromisesolutions.com
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