> > >Now when I explore these issues with moms I can say, "Here's ideas about >what different people do. Here are the advantages and the challenges. >You can make a wise choice based on YOUR life, and you CAN walk your >talk, even though it may be one of the biggest challenges you've ever >had." And the help of good friends helps! > This is wonderful, Dawn. But, you see, here is the thing. I read this and I *don't* hear: Breastfeeding is normal, artificial feeding is worse / risky. I hear it is top-of-the-line, something to strive for, something that is worth the difficulties or the paradigm shifts, something that is transformative. I think we need to make a distinction, here. For the individual mother who is breastfeeding, praise and honour is deserved and needed. She is doing the *best* thing for her baby. It may, indeed, be the most ethical thing, or the most altruistic, or the most challenging. On a societal level, breastfeeding is the norm. In prenatal classes, with hcps, in literature, it is fine to say this, and to talk about the risks and dangers of not breastfeeding. I don't think it is particularly helpful when we are counselling mothers. That's when Dawn's words are really valuable. And I'm not entirely convinced that educating people about the risks is the only way to promote our cause. I can think of other social issues in which it wasn't the best or the only method. There seems to be a sense on Lactnet that talking about the risks of smoking is what really encourages people to quit. This may be true for some. However, I have talked to a lot of teenagers who were indifferent to this, who seem to work hard to "numb" themselves to the risks of these and other choices. These same people were really happy to talk to people who were sensitive to how hard it was to quit, and who encouraged them by telling them how much healthier they would be. They told their friends that food tasted better, kissing was more fun, etc. Another example is date rape, in which encouraging young women to say "no" for positive reasons -- to do something perfectly normal like expect to be treated respectfully -- was more effective than educating them about the risks of going out with people they didn't know, etc. I don't mind being a minority voice, though, and wish you all luck in promoting breastfeeding -- however you do it! I find that Lactnet is a safe place to disagree, discuss, learn, grow, change... Thank you all! Jo-Anne Elder-Gomes *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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