(no subject)

[valancystirling]

Seems the ladies in the breastfeeding community are especially bored this week and are planning all kinds of dastardly things for LJ/Six Apart. How nice. I don't know what it means that my devotion to LJ is greater than my devotion to the cause of breastfeeding. Or maybe it's that I'm really sick of breastfeeding BEING a cause. I've questioned my decision to sit this one out and not get involved, but I honestly don't see how this is going to make any real improvement. I'm trying to work out why I feel that way. Maybe I think violence is more effective. Like I feel like bashing in the heads of all the jackasses out there who pass laws making breastfeeding in public illegal. And the jackasses who make mothers nursing in public (legally) feel disgusting or uncomfortable or mad. Or the jackass doctors who don't know what the hell they're talking about and encourage mothers to formula feed for no good reason. And the jackasses who get all huffy because a mother would breastfeed a toddler. So SO many jackasses. So many heads to bash in. That's what it will take, I think. All I need is a baseball bat, you know? But then, Topie needs me to breastfeed her, and that would be difficult from prison. I'll take a stand in my own little life. I'll feed my kid whenever and wherever necessary, and I won't make a big show of it, but I sure as hell won't pretend to be ashamed or embarrased about it.

I haven't gotten nearly enough exercise lately. It's been so cold and windy that all my attempts at walking have been unsuccessful. It's not that I mind it so much, but Topie's been very sniffly lately and I don't want her to get blasted with that cold wind. Just can't wait for my mom to see how flabby and disgusting I am. Oh yay.

Comments

[dearcarrie.livejournal.com]

Is it really illegal in some places to breastfeed? No way! Where?
Do you happen to know the international stance on breastfeeding? What's it like in other countries? A breastfeeding ban sounds like some weird American thing... probably not like that in the rest of the universe, right?

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

I keep hearing reports of various towns banning public breastfeeding on the grounds of indecent exposure or some nonsense.

I've talked to lots of people about this, just conversationally, and it seems like most European countries don't have a problem with it. One guy told me he and his wife just got back from Italy and that it wasn't uncommon to see a woman just "whip it out" as he said, and feed her baby wherever. Of course, aside from anecdotes like that, I really don't know.

There are so many "weird American things" and I just can't figure out why.

[spoothbrush.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of "puritan" fear of the body. *shrugs*

I think a lot of the people who are very hard-line on either side are going overboard, though. Can't we all just live and let live?

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

It's not really illegal anywhere, but some places don't have laws clarifying that it is legal, and people often do get told to stop or go somewhere else or whatever, and sometimes even arrested or ticketed. Not too often, but someone got ticketed last year in Colorado. :-/

They did try to pass a law in one Arizona town last year making it illegal to nurse in public, but fortunately it was overturned.

Good read: http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

That's what I read! I just forgot where. I know I've seen a couple of other articles in the last year, but I never bother to remember my sources. Makes everything i say sound soooo credible.