Magda Sachs wrote:

> Can I just say that I think we will never get anywhere with helping women
> stand up for themselves and their babies and make good choices for
> themselves if we propagate this culture of pedestals, defererence, wise ones
> and heirarchy?

This is so true!  I totally understand what you are talking about with the
difference between respect for expertise and deference to it.  As a LLL leader
on the central east coast, I can't tell you how frustrated I am all the time by
mothers who have bf problems that are terrified to do anything about it because
"the ped told me to ___".  Even when they have all the information in the world
in front of their faces, they still don't do anything to help themselves.

I don't blame the mothers for this.  It is how we are brought up as women in our
society.  I also think that part of the problem is that we are too used to
giving over our power to ANYONE who proclaims themselves to be an authority.  So
many people now have power over us that we are terrified to do anything but what
we are told.  Never mind that every parent in the world is afraid of "what if
the Social Service finds out I'm doing ___ ?".    It doesn't matter what sort of
parent you are anymore.  You area almost guaranteed to be doing something that
is not necessarily illegal, but definetely gets you into trouble with some
social worker.

Hopefully, as bf supporters we can help moms to make choices of their own and
access their power.  I'm sure that as we continue to help women help themselves
the world will become a better place and then we shall have true equality.

<end ramble>

Tammy Schilling
LLL of Salisbury

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