I will second (or is that third or fourth...?) others' comments on the
difficulty of getting paid for what one actually does as a speaker--or a
writer. Each of the topics I have written about have taken at least a year
of researching the literature, reading hundreds of articles, corresponding
with colleagues all over the world, etc. For example, my work on vitamin D,
a particularly complex and controversial topic, has consumed a
year-and-a-half of effort (which is still ongoing) and a literature review
of over 350 articles and chapters (which is still ongoing). I doubt that
this work will ever be fully financially compensated by income from
speaking or writing or anything else. In addition, I travel with a
non-separating child which requires conference organizers to cover extra
travel expense if I present a session. It also requires all involved to
work out something creative for the care of my child while I am speaking.
As soon as this extra complication is discovered, my invitation to speak
often vanishes. Our general culture does not value breastfeeding or
mothering. And, even when conference organizers do, they still have to live
within budget constraints and satisfy the perceived needs of conference
participants. While I have no difficulty presenting or attending a session
in the presence of children and babies--and my own child has been to so
many conferences that she is quite skilled at participating without
disturbing others--many people cannot imagine a conference with a child in
attendance. At times, it is truly frustrating. On the other hand, what kind
of a world would it be if none of us ever did anything to try to make the
world a better place unless we were paid for it?

With no satisfactory answers on how to make a living in this field and
truly grateful for the often inadequately compensated work of my Lactnet
colleagues,

Cynthia

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell

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