Tina Lavy, your recent post shows that there have been big changes in your
local Health and Human Services culture in the last fifteen years, from a
situation where breastfeeding was merely biologically normal (as it always
is) to being such a part of local culture that is has become *culturally*
normal, too. Other areas would envy you, where breastfeeding still isn't
culturally accepted, and new mothers lack role models because they have
never seen anyone breastfeeding. Your present culture is surely the result
of concerted effort and you and others deserve credit for this environment
where breastfeeding is discussed matter of factly as part of life.

As you will know, this hasn't always been so, both in recent generations in
various countries and historically, sometimes for generations (which is
well documented). There have been times and regions where breastfeeding was
so unusual, and invisible, that mothers lacked role models and felt judged
if they breastfed.

Culture can be reversed (for instance, foot binding in China, after 1911),
and in your own working and social environments. Breastfeeding sits within
the surrounding culture, and culture can be powerful and can impact
mother's decisions. We must remember to nurture cultural acceptance of
breastfeeding as "what mothers do", as it is so easy for previous
traditions to return. Thank you for sharing this story.

Virginia

Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA
Historian of Medicine
Queensland, Australia
www.virginiathorley.com
http://www.uq.edu.au/hapi/dr-virginia-thorley

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