"Breastfeeding Women Viewed As Less Competent"

[Cynthia Mosher]

An interesting article about the social stigma of breastfeeding.

A study emerged out of Oxford University last week suggesting babies who are breastfed end up doing better in school. Yet despite such well-documented benefits for both mother and child, the percentage of American breastfeeding women remains “stagnant and low,” according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Why are only one-third of American mothers exclusively breastfeeding at three months, and only 43 percent breastfeeding at all at six months? Perhaps because they’ve gotten a sense of how harshly they are being judged.

http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/breastfeeding-women-viewed-as-less-competent-29338/

 

[happysmileylady]

Honestly, I think the concepts in the article are off the wall...

First, people are supposed to come up with an overall impression of someone from a bit of a biography.  I am sure they didn't give them a huge book about her to read, just a couple of pages at most.  And we are supposed to assume that all of these folks had no idea who she was and had absolutely no impression of her before reading the biography....don't buy that.

Then, people are supposed to get an impression of a woman from listening to a recording of a GUY changing a date time with her?  Not to mention...normal people don't say "to BREASTFEED the baby" they just say "to FEED the baby."  People don't say "to bottle feed the baby" either.  Just the fact that HOW the baby is fed needs to be mentioned makes a difference in the impression.  It puts attention on the how, when attention isn't needed. 

And finally...getting a job...probably the fact that employers are specifically required to give nursing moms breaks to pump, when aren't legally required to give any other group specific breaks, that is probably what affects them the most.  My boss allows whatever breaks I ask for, and doesn't say a word, but it IS an inconvience. 

[2lilsweetfoxes]

I know when I was breastfeeding and working (still working, no longer breastfeeding), I was often called onto  the carpet for  simple mistakes because of the sleep deprivation caused by being up every couple hours for 20-30 minutes at a time--I was so forgetful and walking around in a fog.  I stopped pumping at work when I moved to a house closer to my job because I could just feed before going to work, go home for lunch and feed the baby, then I got off at 5 and immediately fed her.  I'd have a bottle pumped for her when I got up in the morning and that was usually enough for an afternoon bottle when she got up from nap around 3/4 and some extra.  I very nearly lost my job over it.  DD refused to co-sleep, and it made no sense for daddy (the SAHP) to get up and give her a bottle at night if I just would have had to get up and pump anyhow.

[moonfirefaery]

Breastfeeding mothers are viewed as less competent, while studies show that they the reality is they are more likely to be educated!

I don't know if that's sad or funny.