How is Breastfeeding Related to Politics?

Did you hear about the flap in the Blogosphere when Facebook removed photos of women breastfeeding from their site and then banned one woman who continued to post them?  How about the recent nationwide breast-in at Applebee's restaurants? How about when Bill Maher compared breastfeeding in public to masturbating in public?

Breastfeeding in public continues to be a hot button subject in our society.  Everyone seems to agree that "breast is best," the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, even our Department of Health and Human Services.  But breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are abysmal.  Why?  Because no one wants to see mothers actually doing it and our government, employers, and fellow citizens aren't willing to give mothers the time and the respect they need to successfully breastfeed.

Apparently we're supposed to lock ourselves in our homes for 12 months and never emerge.  Never visit the doctor, or the dentist, go the grocery store, the mall, or a playground.  And heaven forbid a breastfeeding mother enters a restaurant and actually attempts to feed her child.  She's likely to be the subject of stares, recrimination, and discrimination.

Breastfeeding is protected by statute in one way or another in the majority of states in this country.  Despite this, discrimination against breastfeeding mothers continues to happen.  In response to this, The League of Maternal Justice formed to support mothers.  The women of The LofMJ created a lovely breastfeeding montage in response to Facebook's banning of breastfeeding photos.  They put it on You Tube, where it became one of the most watched videos.

YouTube banned it, stating that it was "inappropriate."  No further explanation.  Here's the press release from The LofMJ:

For immediate release 11/27/07

Youtube Bans Protest Video
Video Depicted Breastfeeding Moms

A mom-produced internet protest video attacking Facebook's banning of breastfeeding pictures was itself banned by the popular video sharing service Youtube after gaining recognition as the top-five most discussed of its day.  The email from Youtube stated that it was due to the video's inappropriate content/inappropriate nature.  A group of moms called Youtube's action hypocritical and harmful, and pointed to dozens of sexually explicit and harmful videos currently allowed on the service.  The moms also pointed to a number of state laws specifically stating that public breastfeeding was not inappropriate.

You can view the video, the press release, and contact information in full on The LofMJ if you want to see what all the flap is about.

Now you're wondering: How the heck is breastfeeding related to politics?

It's simple.  Attitudes towards breastfeeding mothers and mothers in general are a symptom of something wrong with our society.  We don't value motherhood.  Not really.  If we did, paid maternity leave would be a no brainer.  Mothers would have more guaranteed time with their children after birth.

John Edwards has some wonderful ideas for making the U.S. more family friendly.   He has proposed universal health care coverage, affordable child care for those who need it and expanding FMLA to provide 8 weeks of paid family and medical leave.

The U.S. fails to fund the minimum of six weeks of maternal leave recommended by doctors for both mothers and newborn children. Many parents must rush back to work, leaving their newborn babies in suboptimal or ad hoc care. In many states, day care centers are prohibited from accepting children that young due to the risk of infection. By not guaranteeing any mothers paid leave, America departs with a worldwide consensus of 169 countries to stand with only five countries including Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Swaziland. [ACOG, 2007; NPWF, 2003; IHSP, 2007]

None of these steps will individually change how mothers, and the essential role that they play in our society, are viewed.  But to change attitudes we need new policies, popular or not.  I believe that John Edwards is the candidate who will work hardest for mothers.  Maybe in 10 years women breastfeeding in public will be applauded instead of vilified.

Comments

[jen]

Brilliant, LM. Am so glad you posted about this as i didn't have time. Bravo!

[Max]

Though parents concentrate more on their careers, they must show concern about searching for a right day care to mold their kid in a right way..

[Christine]

The idea that a video such as this one, which very simply and eloquently presents the most important gift of mothering and nurturing a young child could be portrayed as offensive is a sad statement about how very little parenthood and motherhood is valued in the U.S.

[damia]

Wow, it's really ridiculous to ban that kind of video.

However, if there's a breastfeeding topic to get righteously pissed off about, it's this one:

"Jail denies mom right to feed her child"
http://vivirlatino.com/2007/11/27/jail-denies-mom-right-to-feed-her-child.php

[Carolyn Elefant]

I agree that it was ridiculous for YouTube to ban a video of a mom breastfeeding. But personally, I don't understand why women feel an entitlement to breastfeed in public or why breastfeeding is a political issue. If women feel that breastfeeding is important, they should find a way to make it work and not expect others to make it work for them.
I have two daughters aged 11 and 8. I breastfed my older daughter until she was 13 months old and the younger one until she was 3 yrs. old (this was not intentional, I just wanted her to self wean and it took a LONG time). I have my own law firm and I set my schedule so that I was able to do this. However, I had offers for other jobs, but I chose to continue working for myself because I wanted to be around for my girls. I also breastfed in public or restaurants, but if I felt that it was not appropriate, I went to a restroom or out to the car. And if I had been asked by someone to stop, nursing in public, I would not have been offended. Some people are simply not comfortable around women who breastfeed (my dad included, who routinely left the room if I was feeding my daughters). They're not necessarily backwards or chauvinist, but just uncomfortable or overly modest. So what's the big deal about moving elsewhere to accomodate them?

[Carolyn Elefant]

Also, in response to the post, I wanted to add that I was not stuck at home while I breastfed my daughters. I went to restaurants weekly, took them to the parks, the mall, the bookstore, the museum, the zoo, etc...I never felt any stares or recrimination when I nursed in a "kid friendly" place (in fact, when I was nursing my 2 year old in the park, one woman complimented me for being a role model for nursing an older child...little did she know that I wanted my daughter to wean and she wouldn't!) And I didn't have a problem nursing in the bathroom, the car or between the bookshelves in the bookstore if I didn't think it was appropriate to be in public.

[Amanda]

I also breast fed all of my children and I did it where ever I wanted! If someone is uncomfortable with a mother who is feeding their child then DON'T WATCH! It's simple as that. In a mall, a resteraunt, any other public place, maybe those people should try minding their own business instead of looking in on others lives. I don't think I should be the one to have to get up and find a place to nurse my child that is "more appropriate" for people around me. So once again-IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, TURN YOUR HEAD!!
As for maternity leave in the U.S., I really hope something can be done about that. I must say that I love living in Canada and have the opportunity to have 1 year paid maternity leave.

[LawyerMama]

Wow, a post about breastfeeding always brings up strong feelings. Damia - Thank you for the link to the NC story. I'm appalled but, unfortunately, not all that surprised.

Carolyn - Thank you so much for your comment. I can certainly understand where you're coming from but, as a lawyer, I'm sure you do know that a woman's right to breastfeed in public is protected in most states in this country. I understand why some people are uncomfortable with it. Hell, once my son started ripping the blanket off with glee it made *me* uncomfortable. But sometimes you just have to do it. Particularly when you're traveling or out of town and you don't have the luxury of heading back to your car or a nearby home or hotel room. (Speaking from experience here.)

I have been asked to breastfeed in the bathroom before and I've tried it. Ick. Never doing it again.

[christine]

you tube?!?!?!

this breaks my heart.

great post.

[slackermommy]

Great post!

I am always amazed when I read or comments or hear stories of mothers breastfeeding in restrooms. I nursed all 4 of my babies for the first year and would have never nursed in a restroom unless it had a couch or chair. Are these mothers really sitting on the toilet nursing? And they think that's where they should feed their baby so that they don't make someone feel uncomfortable? You've got to be kidding me? I guess I was fortunate that I didn't have any negative experiences. I nursed in public discreetly and mostly without a blanket and confidently with all my babies and was never asked to nurse somewhere else. If I made anyone uncomfortable and I'm sure I did then they must have looked away or walked away like they should. In my opinion, a nursing mother deserves privacy not the other way around.

[slackermommy]

Great post!

I am always amazed when I read or comments or hear stories of mothers breastfeeding in restrooms. I nursed all 4 of my babies for the first year and would have never nursed in a restroom unless it had a couch or chair. Are these mothers really sitting on the toilet nursing? And they think that's where they should feed their baby so that they don't make someone feel uncomfortable? You've got to be kidding me? I guess I was fortunate that I didn't have any negative experiences. I nursed in public discreetly and mostly without a blanket and confidently with all my babies and was never asked to nurse somewhere else. If I made anyone uncomfortable and I'm sure I did then they must have looked away or walked away like they should. In my opinion, a nursing mother deserves privacy not the other way around.

[Kim S.]

Interesting read. I breastfed my daughter in public and ironically found the only place I ever really got rude glances was in San Francisco. I got some REALLY rude glaces and indirect comments while at the DeYoung Museum. I purchased a Hooter Hider and loved it because my daughter couldn't rip it off while nursing and I could look down at her while nursing. I agree with Amanda; if you don't like it, then LOOK AWAY.

People don't give dirty glances to babies using bottles. They don't usually oogle either when someone does it. When I was nursing, I always tried to be discreet for everyone's comfort. Sometimes, you just can't help being out in a public place and a baby being hungry (especially when they are cluster feeding!).

If people had meals prepared for them in public restrooms rather than sanitized kitchens, I'm sure they would takes issue then. Would they like to eat their food surrounded by flushing toilets? And a note to commercial developers and property managers: try adding a few mother's rooms to your buildings!

[Kenshin]

Is this still an on-going problem, people taking issue with women breast-feeding in public? I suppose they'd rather hear the baby crying like a siren instead?
I hated breast-feeding in bathrooms, the noise would disturb my son, who was already difficult to feed. We had a Maya wrap, which helped some, but really it was still difficult finding a changing table in someplaces, so I take what I can get.
I think I should feel grateful, then, that my son weaned himself at only 5 months (all his toddler teeth were in by then...ouch). He was happier with a bottle by that point, which he was magically able to hold himself at 5 months too, but I have complete sympathy with anyone who is given trouble for nursing in public, because I know our case was pretty rare.

[beanball]

Clearly, John Edwards is not the man you thought he was, huh. Working hard for mothers should probably include not fooling around on his cancer-stricken wife and mother of HIS children and acknowledging the child he fathered as a result of that affair. Only then can he be a credible proponent for women's rights. In my opinion.