motherhood is political -- Sexing the Political: A Journal of Third Wave Feminists on Sexuality

motherhood is political

breastfeeding as liberation

"The liberation women need is the ability to breastfeed free of social, medical, and employer constraints. Instead, they have been presented with the notion that liberation comes with being able to abandon breastfeeding without guilt."

Milk, Money, and Madness:
The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding
By Naomi Baumslag, M.D., M.P.H., and Dia L. Michels

In the past 2 years I have learned a lot about breastfeeding and have had the delight and success of nursing my son for 20 months. It deeply saddens me that so many women in America and the world over never get to experience this kind of joy. Breastfeeding is not just feeding your baby the ultimate food with the optimum nutrition, but it is also magical experience and bond you create with your child.

Now if only I could add

1) the freedom to do this without the disgusted stares directed at me while I nurse in public,

2) the ignorant questions about why I still nurse my son,

3) the bombardment of free formula samples,

4) the attitude towards me from women who feel guilty because they chose to formula feed, and

5) the ignorant doctors giving me advice when they know nothing about breastfeeding.

Once we overcome these obstacles, women will have true liberation to breastfeed. Then I can be sure that all mothers will have the opportunity to make an informed decision about this issue, and have the necessary support to breastfeed.
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to put blame on mothers who choose formula. It is hard to make an informed decision when you are bombarded with advertisements and free samples. It is hard to make an informed decision when you doctor tells you that formula is equally as good for you and your baby. It is hard to make an informed decision when you have never seen anyone breastfeed.

We haven't even gotten to the issue of support. It is like swimming up river against the current, but we breastfeeding mamas are slowly gaining some leverage and bringing more mamas with us. Support is either a weight that finally pulls you down and you end your nursing relationship with your baby, or it turns into a motor and you are cruising full speed ahead.
I love seeing mamas cruising full speed ahead and inspiring more mamas to try and continue. Breastfeeding mamas need all the support that they can get, from their partners to their family members to their close friends.

Even when your family is completely supportive, the nasty remarks and ignorant comments by strangers and acquaintances can still be too much to bare.

Even though I have had the ultimate support, I have had experiences while nursing in public that were extremely discouraging. What about the mama who is nursing and has no support? We are at a pivotal point in our mama's nursing relationship, should we encourage her and offer her support, or let her fend for herself?

Being a mother is the toughest job you will ever love, so if you know a breastfeeding mama, give her your support. Not only does she need it, she deserves it for making a tough choice that is best for her baby, herself, her family, and our world.

Katie Novotny is a 25-year-old third wave feminist. She is a stay-at-home mama of a beautiful 15month old son named Moti. Katie enjoys being a feminist activist in the Twin Cities. Her interests include: welfare rights, local and national politics, breast-feeding and other issues related to motherhood.