Joanne wrote of Cindy's post:

<The title suggests that race is the determining factor, but this
paragraph and the other findings show that it is not because black women
are black women that they don`t breastfeed.>

< they
can`t solve the problem of poverty, which, if you look at the other
data, underlies many of the other problems.>

I saw the article in the newspaper, and reacted with a sense of disbelief
and anger about the bias that the conclusion seemed to represent. To say
that race is a DETERMINING factor might be just another way of blaming
the victims.

Even though poverty may underlie other problems, among WIC mothers, all
of whom must have some financial factors to be eligible, I observe that
family dynamics and dysfunctionality, poor family support and fragile
self esteem often play a greater role in feeding decisions and success.

This to me, is a cultural overlay that affects families in all racial and
ethnic classifications. This is  especially true where the mother is
completely surrounded by relatives and friends who are thoroughly
engrained with the advertising/formula feeding/breast sexualization
culture. These conditions, too, are no respecters of race, and in fact,
are certainly not limited to mothers below the poverty level.

Jean
*********
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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