Feminism, birth and breastfeeding

[Doula Mary]

Ladies,
Do you think birth and breastfeeding should be considered a "feminist" issue?

PONDER!!!!

Mary

[Bex]

Yes. but I've got to head out the door, so I will ponder and think later! Good discussion!

[momofmany]

Feminism.....don't get me started....lol I think breastfeeding should be considered a parenting issue. To me, sometimes, feminism is nothing more than "masculating" women. Women trying hard to be like men, which is masculine, not feminine.

I would like to see women take back their roles of mothering and caring for the family.....which breastfeeding falls into.

[syncreo]

I don't think they should be - I think they absolutely are. Feminism is about women and our rights and choices. I identify as a feminist and it is my feminism that draws me to birth, breastfeeding etc. work. I see that women being able to choose how they birth and being given the right support to do it as important as any other women's issue. I don't necessarily seperate out birth or breastfeeding from the rest of feminist politics and I don't think birth will change much without women's bodies and rights being respected across the board. I am tired right now so not much for articulating my thoughts but that is a start :-)

[doula Michele]

I am really not sure. I guess more of a womens rights issue.
But then again I am not sure. I really think women have to make a choice.
I know my opinion may not be popular, but I really think women need to choose betwen being mothers and being carreer minded.
I am a woman, and yet when I was working it really annoyed me that other women were able to take mat leave, and have their jobs secure, and others had to pick up their share of the work load. And mothers of preschoolers can call in sick because they have sick kids, and everyone else has to pick up the slack for that day.
Women who do not have children and are not dedicated to family first, end up picking up slack....since they do not have kids they have to pick up from daycare etc etc.
Just my 2cents.

[Doula Mary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by syncreo I don't think they should be - I think they absolutely are. Feminism is about women and our rights and choices. I identify as a feminist and it is my feminism that draws me to birth, breastfeeding etc. work. I see that women being able to choose how they birth and being given the right support to do it as important as any other women's issue. I don't necessarily seperate out birth or breastfeeding from the rest of feminist politics and I don't think birth will change much without women's bodies and rights being respected across the board. I am tired right now so not much for articulating my thoughts but that is a start :-)

Thank you!
I think there is a huge misconception of the definition of the word "feminist, women think we want to be like men.
For me, it is embracing what is inherently female and giving that honor. Thus, why I believe birth and breastfeeding is a HUGE feminist issue.
It is giving repect to the varied roles..each, valuable that women do..mothering being one of them.
I believe when women are truly respected in our cultural we will have improved birthing, breastfeeding and mothering experiences.
Mary

[KristinDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Mary Thank you! I think there is a huge misconception of the definition of the word "feminist, women think we want to be like men. For me, it is embracing what is inherently female and giving that honor. Thus, why I believe birth and breastfeeding is a HUGE feminist issue. It is giving repect to the varied roles..each, valuable that women do..mothering being one of them. I believe when women are truly respected in our cultural we will have improved birthing, breastfeeding and mothering experiences. Mary

Hmmmm...I don't see the self-proclaimed "feminists" of today really embracing and promoting what is inherently feminine at all. I see them fighting AGAINST the role of woman as wife and mother and belittling the importance of those roles.

[Kacy]

Yes, I see that too, Kristin. And that is unfortunate, because feminism, to me, is about CHOICE. The choice of being able to stay home with your children, the choice of being able to go to work and provide for your family, the choice of not having a family at all and being a high-powered career woman. To me, feminism is about supporting WOMEN, and women, today, have a variety of choices from which to pick.

Unfortunately, some feminists see a woman choosing to stay home with their children as a "slap in the face" to all of the women who went before us, who fought for our right to work if we wanted to. This is a shame, because we are all women with the same feelings, fears, insecurities, and dreams as each other, and we need to be supporting instead of belittling. Each side needs to give the other more respect. What is right for someone else might not be right for you. What gives you joy might make someone else miserable.

Aside from that schpiel , yes, birth and breastfeeding are absolutely a feminist issue to me. How could they not be? It angers me that more feminists are not enraged about what is happening to the women of America and the world. Sadly, a lot of them just don't think of it.

[MamaMichelle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinDoula Hmmmm...I don't see the self-proclaimed "feminists" of today really embracing and promoting what is inherently feminine at all. I see them fighting AGAINST the role of woman as wife and mother and belittling the importance of those roles.

I 100% agree! I'm pondering the question and will hopefully come up with something brilliant to say.

[syncreo]

Feminists as a general rule do not belittle mothers or women as wives. What they do is challenge some of the assumptions that underly motherhood, marriage etc. and the inherent desire that every woman wants to particpate in thes roles, has similar experiences in these roles, and that motherhood and being a wife is what what women are valued for above all else. Check out the Association for Research on Mothering http://www.yorku.ca/arm/
It is a feminist research group devoted to the topic of mothering.

I am a self proclaimed feminist and I believe in the value of motherhood.

[Doula Mary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinDoula Hmmmm...I don't see the self-proclaimed "feminists" of today really embracing and promoting what is inherently feminine at all. I see them fighting AGAINST the role of woman as wife and mother and belittling the importance of those roles.

OH, I REPESCTFULLY disagree, some of our most empowered feminists...are working tirelessly in birthwork and breastfeeding activism.

Mary

[Doula Mary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacy Yes, I see that too, Kristin. And that is unfortunate, because feminism, to me, is about CHOICE. The choice of being able to stay home with your children, the choice of being able to go to work and provide for your family, the choice of not having a family at all and being a high-powered career woman. To me, feminism is about supporting WOMEN, and women, today, have a variety of choices from which to pick. Unfortunately, some feminists see a woman choosing to stay home with their children as a "slap in the face" to all of the women who went before us, who fought for our right to work if we wanted to. This is a shame, because we are all women with the same feelings, fears, insecurities, and dreams as each other, and we need to be supporting instead of belittling. Each side needs to give the other more respect. What is right for someone else might not be right for you. What gives you joy might make someone else miserable. Aside from that schpiel , yes, birth and breastfeeding are absolutely a feminist issue to me. How could they not be? It angers me that more feminists are not enraged about what is happening to the women of America and the world. Sadly, a lot of them just don't think of it.

Great post, I agree...supporting women's choice..to be what they need to be...that varies very much from women to women.
30 years ago, women were fighting for their right to birth with more empowerment...hence a increase in natrual birth, father attended birth and breastfeeding.
We seem to have lost that passion!
Mary

[Doula Mary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by syncreo Feminists as a general rule do not belittle mothers or women as wives. What they do is challenge some of the assumptions that underly motherhood, marriage etc. and the inherent desire that every woman wants to particpate in thes roles, has similar experiences in these roles, and that motherhood and being a wife is what what women are valued for above all else. Check out the Association for Research on Mothering http://www.yorku.ca/arm/ It is a feminist research group devoted to the topic of mothering. I am a self proclaimed feminist and I believe in the value of motherhood.

BRAVO!
Yes, and we must remember also, that feminism is not just about women working...it is about equal pay, and equal rights for all women globally.
It's hard to feel "free" when women in many cultures are considered property.
Mary

[KristinDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Mary OH, I REPESCTFULLY disagree, some of our most empowered feminists...are working tirelessly in birthwork and breastfeeding activism. Mary

OK, not ALL feminists are fighting against the wife/mother role...but sadly, I think that's the general picture that "feminism" paints.

[AppleValleyDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momofmany Feminism.....don't get me started....lol I think breastfeeding should be considered a parenting issue. To me, sometimes, feminism is nothing more than "masculating" women. Women trying hard to be like men, which is masculine, not feminine. I would like to see women take back their roles of mothering and caring for the family.....which breastfeeding falls into.

EXACTLY what I was thinking. Not sure how one can say breastfeeding is a feminist issue when feminism is all about women getting to do what men do--be it in the workplace or whatever.