Michelle asked:

"So, while breastfeeding women are still discriminated against daily  
(with no laws yet to protect them here in Massachusetts) do we really  
need OpEd pieces complaining about how much we oppress the status  
quo? Or is this a sign that the old order is threatened and that  
change is on the horizon? What do these published opinions *mean*?"


An op-ed piece like that often means that the newspaper knows this'll
stir up a controversy and enhance/maintain readership. Sometimes it also
means an opportunity for public education if the responder/s can come
across as informational like Jeanette discussed yesterday rather than as
ranting or defensive. (But ranting is sometimes what the editor is more
likely to publish simply to keep the controversy/readership going.
Grrrrrr. But it does more harm than good IMO.)

Debbi Heffern
St. Louis, MO

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michelle DePesa
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:55 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Op. piece in local paper "There's more to motherhood than just
breastfeeding"

 From the Patriot Ledger Online:

http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2007/12/18/life/life02.txt

It ends with "Everything I do is for the well-being of my boy, and  
I'll be damned if someone labels me a lousy mom for not breastfeeding."

There are numerous instances of the "straw-breastfeeder", but what I  
see here is someone who knows that formula feeding is not as good for  
her child (despite the fact that almost everyone is doing it) and who  
through possibly necessity or possibly through poor information was  
not able to nurse past one week. She takes it out on breastfeeding  
women. She feels the loss, the guilt and so does what those in a  
majority position often do which is assume underdog status in order  
to gain sympathy and feel justified in rebelling. Notice she is angry  
at the one magazine (Mothering) that does not show the status quo  
feeding method, which in turn "makes" her feel bad. But she has all  
of U.S. culture behind her, since the majority of U.S. babies are  
formula fed either entirely or partially. Exclusive breastfeeding at  
6 months was reported in Mothering magazine 2 issues ago at hovering  
around 10%. Nowhere has anyone labeled anyone a lousy mother or  
declared that mothering is only about breastfeeding (as the title of  
the piece implies).

It reminds me a bit of the article by the doctor in the Globe a few  
years ago which is still available online:

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2004/02/03/ 
sure_breast_is_best_but_is_it_worth_it/


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