> So to these women (Naomi) who are used to acting to get what they need, to
> hear LLL tell them to nurse as long as possible and that going back to work
> need not be a reason to wean, and giving tips about pumping and nursing,
> without helping them to organize and advocate for what they need from their
> employers, must sound like our mothers of years ago telling us not to wear
> short skirts so we wouldn't be raped, rather than organizing to work to end
> violence towards women.
>
I wouldn't say LLL Leaders discourage mothers from advocating for their
rights. At LLL meetings, mothers are often given suggestions about
things I consider advocacy: how to impress upon their hcp how important
breastfeeding is for them; how to be an active participant in birthing
choices in order to get breastfeeding off to a good start; what
resources are helpful in determining the necessity and advisability of
medical interventions in pregnancy; how to communicate with unsupportive
or critical people; what pumps are most appropriate for work; whether
there are alternatives to returning to work or to accepting particular
working conditions; why mothering is critically important; how to build
a support system; etc.
Mixing causes and political advocacy, which you mention, are policies
relevant to a Leader's actions, but not the actions of mothers attending
Group Meetings. Such policies are intended to ensure that Leaders are
seen as non-judgmental, non-sectarian, non-discriminatory, non-partisan
and so on. Leaders are expected to breastfeed a certain length of time
before leading Groups, but they wouldn't ask a mother to commit to a
particular duration of breastfeeding in order to attend LLL Group
meetings.
I have been a feminist all my life, have done work in women's studies,
have chaired the status of women committee in our faculty union, and
have developed a particular view of mothering, which is far more radical
than the one most people are advocating for. The rape analogy is a bit
hard for me to read. I don't understand how it applies: can you give me
an example of how LLL promotes passive behaviour in order to prevent
breastfeeding problems? Or how we avoid discussing ways to put an end to
threats to the breastfeeding relationship, such as misinformation and
lack of support? In my experience, Leaders are respectful of mothers'
individual choices and the diversity of each mother's and baby's needs,
and they are eager to model different societal expectations, creating a
better world one mother and baby at a time. These are, arguably,
essentially feminist acts, as is the organizational model of women
supporting each other, sharing their stories and creating safe spaces in
which collective empowerment can thrive. On the other hand, women who
don't identify with the feminist movement -- and there are many -- need
help with breastfeeding, too.
Jo-Anne Elder-Gomes, PhD on Myths of Identity in Women's Writing

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html