Lactivism
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Lactivism (portmanteau of "lactation" and "activism") is a term used to describe the advocacy of breastfeeding.[1] Supporters, referred to as "lactivists", seek to promote the health benefits of breastfeeding over formula-feeding and to ensure that nursing mothers are not discriminated against.[1][2]
One form that lactivism can take is the staging of a "nurse-in" (a play on "sit-in"), which involves women gathering in public to breastfeed their children, usually to protest incidents in which a nursing mother was asked to cover up or leave a location because she was breastfeeding.[3][4][5]
Often during nurse-ins, breastfeeding mothers will sometimes wear clothing with the International Breastfeeding Symbol on it, to show their solidarity.[6]
Another form of lactivism is simply acting as support for mothers that wish to breastfeed. Some mothers may not have the information necessary to succeed, and some have been provided incomplete or misleading information by the medical establishment, friends, family members, and others that have no experience with breastfeeding. This support often also includes help for mothers who initially had a hospital lactation consultant that opted for formula at the first sign of difficulties with feeding.
See also
References
- ^ a b Harmon, Amy. (June 7, 2005). "'Lactivists' Taking Their Cause, and Their Babies, to the Streets." The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
- ^ Gordon, Andrew. (September 24, 2007). "The politics of breastfeeding." Toronto Star. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
- ^ "Breast-feeding mothers stage nurse-in. (November, 16, 2006). MSNBC News. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
- ^ "'Nurse-In' Protest To Take Place In Chatsworth." (September 8, 2007). CBS News. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
- ^ "National 'nurse-in' set to protest treatment of mom." (November 20, 2006). USA Today. Retrieve September 27, 2007.
- ^ "The International Breastfeeding Symbol. (n.d.). Mothering. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
External links
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