A member of LactNet writes:
"The Army is NOT a weird culture.  I thought these types of comments were
not supposed to be made on Lactnet.  All of us in this country can thank our
Army for not being weird and thus defending our country and for the many not
weird Army servicemen dying for it."

I find this comment extremely ironic in light of the recent Army report
revealing what is no surprise to most women in this country -- that the Army
is full of rampant sexism and sexual harrassment and sexual assault of
female members by male members.  In that respect, I don't suppose it *is*
weird, as it is not that different from the level of sexism and sexual
harrassment and sexual assault that one finds in other primarily male
cultural institutions in this country, including our fine institutions of
higher learning.  However, in many ways, U.S. military "culture" is
definitely different from other aspects of our country's culture, and the
military would be the first to tell you that.  Having grown up in a military
family -- my father was in the Air Force for 23 years, retired as a Major,
and then worked for the Air Force as a civilian for another 15 years, and I
worked as a civilian for both the Air Force and Army in my younger years --
I know well that the military isn't terribly concerned about keeping parents
with their children.  My father spent an entire year away from us when I was
5 years old.  The inflexibility of the modern Army in responding to the
changing demographics of their members -- including new mothers -- is out of
step with our changing culture.  There is no reason for the mother of a
breastfeeding 4 month old to be posted to a place where she cannot take her
children with her.  I find it hard to believe that the Army couldn't find
another person to fill that post.  Breastfeeding doesn't matter to the Army
-- it isn't something they want to have to take into account.  Pregnant
women isn't something the Army wants to have to deal with.  And parents who
don't want to leave their children (whether the mother or the father) are
not something the Army wants to deal with.

I hope someone will clarify the Medical and Family Leave Act -- I thought it
provided for more than 2 weeks off for the birth of an adopted baby, and was
NOT predicated on medical necessity of the person taking the leave.  That
is, both parents can take leave for the birth of a baby, and both parents
can take leave for an adopted baby's arrival, and anyone can take leave to
help in the case of a medical crisis in their immediate family.  Perhaps the
Armed Services are exempt from this?

I think we all need to lighten up.  Just as not all members of the Army are
sexual predators, not all members of the Army are noble patriots who died
for my freedom.  The Army has a long way to go before it is breastfeeding
friendly, parent friendly, or even female friendly.


Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University
Author of "Dancing Skeletons," winner of the 1995 Margaret Mead Award
Co-editor of "Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives"
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