Oh dear I think my thoughts seem to have taken on a bit of a "tone". I don't so much disagree with her concept that advocacy needs to be done at policy-making levels, of course it does, but mostly I disagree with her taking the view that lactavists are drama queens who focus on trivial issues - and with her bitching about people who don't advocate in a way she approves of, as if they have some kind of obligation to be the kind of lactavist she thinks is right. Besides, if you aren't going to do something about an issue, don't you see the irony in complaining that someone else isn't doing it either??
My thoughts after reading her entry -
I agree that there needs to be more than pats-on-the-back encouragement, there needs to be realistic support to enable women to breastfeed successfully when it is impossible for them to stay home with their baby. Just because not all lactavists work in this area, don't assume there aren't any who are. I don't see how it helps to call advocates "myopic and self-righteous" just because you don't like the area they have chosen to advocate in on the day the tv cameras are pointed at them.
You understand well the need for lactavists to see the big picture, and your point about needing more action in the areas of access to health care, lactation friendly workplaces and family leave is absolutely valid. But you also need to see that activism is being done in places that don't have a site online or that show up on tv. There are many areas of breastfeeding activism and not all women are able to be involved in all of them. Yes, we have a long way to go in the areas of healthcare, childcare, maternity leave, etc. and instead of assuming lactavists are a bunch of myopic self-righteous drama queens, how about you try the "big picture" thing for a minute yourself and try realizing that the lactavists offering info online or appearing on tv for a few well-edited seconds are very likely also those moms who are writing letters to legislators, doctors, employers, schools, childcare organizations, wherever policy can be improved to support breastfeeding moms and children, from the smallest grassroots efforts all the way up to the highest political office.There ARE people working to improve the situations you are talking about. We need MORE people putting their energy into it, instead of putting their energy into criticizing the efforts they don't approve of.
You see issues that need attention, and you go sit down and write scathing paragraphs about the people who aren't doing anything about them - oh, wait, are you one of those people? Uh-oh, better check - when was the last time you wrote your legislators about breastfeeding rights in the workplace, or about encouraging hospitals to adopt the Baby-Friendly Initiative, or supported any of the breastfeeding causes you see as so important?
I for one hope you actually have done those things, if you truly feel so passionate about the need for a breastfeeding support system that addresses the needs of all income levels. If you wish to see progress made on what you see as "real issues" you would better spend your time doing more advocacy work and less bitching about other advocates whose work you don't personally approve of.
Well I hope that's not too snarky, probably won't get approved to appear in the comments section but at least I didn't use the harsher forms of profanity as offered in the article.... :LOL
I don't think her writing will have so much of an impact but still wanted to point out that there is room for all kinds of advocacy and instead of doing a bunch of pathetic sixth grade style catfighting and namecalling we should get out there and do what we can where we can, wherever our passion calls us, without worrying about being "worthy" in the eyes of other lactivists or the general public. It's not a contest. It's too important to waste our energy bashing each other.
Just like I say about NIP, we don't have any obligation to make other people comfortable with our choices, no matter how much they squawk and chatter at us for not doing what they feel is right. Help where you feel comfortable helping, give assistance where you see a need you can fill.
Raynbow
