as a mum who breast fed my four babies (mastitis and cracked nipples never stopped me) and who loved breast feeding and who felt that i only really found myself and my power when i first gave birth.... i feel for you and i understand why you have had to leave. what you have been through hurts me to the core. men demanding to gate crash la leche and to subvert it's purpose. to waste it's precious resources. to pervert it's usefulness. it's just so wrong. what is happening to us all in the name of trans ideology is so wrong. it's inhumane. it goes against nature and all that is good and right in the world.
This article encompasses the effects of LLL falling into the wrong hands. The BOD of LLLI needs to read this and reflect upon the damage they have caused. And then they need to answer for the damage they have caused the organization and acknowledge the mothers and babies who have been ignored in their crusade for political correctness and in the BOD’s misunderstanding about the definition of inclusivity. This is a mothering organization. It is inherently exclusive because it has to be. One cannot serve a specific population without focusing solely on that group. Let the truth ring out. Current BOD members who have pushed their personal agendas onto us all need to resign. Those with family members struggling with gender issues need to step down to end the bias. Excellent article.
Since my name was mentioned, I want to share that, this past November, I informed the LLLI Board that I will be rejoining the Board as of the Annual Board Meeting, April 2023.
I attended La Leche League training days as a midwife, they were great, babies and children all happily breastfeeding during the day. One great topic, sleeping 5 or more in the family bed. So sad but I understand totally how you feel. I am sure that Speech therapists are also feeling it as they have to now teach men how to speak in a more female way.
Oh my goodness! I am speechless and heart broken. LLL gave me so much as a new mom. It is misogyny at a grand scale for the organization, the culture to go in this direction.
Thank you for sharing your experience and your voice. I worked as a research assistant for Niles Newton, PhD, one of the original LLL founders, in the '70's. She was a warm, caring, brilliant woman. And I imagine she's turning in her grave right now at this crazy turn of events.
From the article "We are even told that The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, the go-to source of knowledge for women about breastfeeding for literally decades, must be renamed--because “womanly” is wrongthink, and “breastfeeding” is exclusionary."
Nine hundred Leader and Leader applicants responded to the survey sent out regarding the title of the 9th edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. A summary of the results shared in the LLLI News of 4 April 2022 showed a higher percentage of respondents were displeased 42% with the prospect of Womanly being removed from the title than were pleased 33%.
WOMANLY
42% displeased with the prospect of removal of the word Womanly from the 9th edition title. (Note: this was even higher for non-English speakers - 57.3% French respondents, 50% Spanish respondents)
33% pleased
25% neutral.
ART
51% displeased with the prospect of removing †he word Art from the title
8% pleased
41% neutral
BREASTFEEDING
70% displeased with the prospect of of removing the word Breastfeeding from the title
8% pleased
22% neutral
It was stated that the title change was a "marketing and outreach decision". The cover of the English language edition will state clearly that it is “the 9th edition of ˇThe Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.”
Yes indeed - it's interesting that data can be used to back up different perspectives, isn't it? For example, a different way to present that survey data is to say that the majority of Leaders who responded either supported or were neutral about the removal of 'womanly'. And let's remember that the main concern shouldn't be the approval of Leaders, much more important is that the book's title appeals to mothers and parents who need the information and support it contains. And really, I'd imagine the publisher has good insights into this - they're hardly going to promote a title that will lose them money are they?
Yes, if activists and the alphabet mafia threaten to destroy the organization. Amazing to have a woman complain about connecting breastfeeding and women. First step towards replacing breastfeeding with chest feeding.
The only people who can breastfeed are women. Removing women from breastfeeding signals "gender neutrality," meaning people other than women (read men) can breastfeed. They cannot. There is no such thing as non-binary.
The link provides no clear explanation. "...more inclusive of parents with disabilities, different skin tones, mental health challenges, lower education levels, and disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, as well as young parents and LGBTQI+ families." In what possible way does 'Womanly' exclude any of the women in those categories?
Or "This allows us to keep brand continuity while sounding more appealing to the current generation of mothers and parents."
Appealing in what way?
Sorry...the article purposefully goes out of its way to NOT "explain why the title is being changed".
as a mum who breast fed my four babies (mastitis and cracked nipples never stopped me) and who loved breast feeding and who felt that i only really found myself and my power when i first gave birth.... i feel for you and i understand why you have had to leave. what you have been through hurts me to the core. men demanding to gate crash la leche and to subvert it's purpose. to waste it's precious resources. to pervert it's usefulness. it's just so wrong. what is happening to us all in the name of trans ideology is so wrong. it's inhumane. it goes against nature and all that is good and right in the world.
Thank you for all your work to promote breastfeeding. I retired about 5 years ago over this and it still makes me so sad.
This article encompasses the effects of LLL falling into the wrong hands. The BOD of LLLI needs to read this and reflect upon the damage they have caused. And then they need to answer for the damage they have caused the organization and acknowledge the mothers and babies who have been ignored in their crusade for political correctness and in the BOD’s misunderstanding about the definition of inclusivity. This is a mothering organization. It is inherently exclusive because it has to be. One cannot serve a specific population without focusing solely on that group. Let the truth ring out. Current BOD members who have pushed their personal agendas onto us all need to resign. Those with family members struggling with gender issues need to step down to end the bias. Excellent article.
Its crazy to include men in breastfeeding groups.If anything women will stay away
Such a shame.Well written article.
Since my name was mentioned, I want to share that, this past November, I informed the LLLI Board that I will be rejoining the Board as of the Annual Board Meeting, April 2023.
That is awesome news! Thank you, thank you!
What do you plan to do on the BOD to further this movement?
You are a brave and brilliant woman. Many of us applaud you, please know this!
100 % agree, I was a leader from 1992 - 2017 and I am appalled.
I attended La Leche League training days as a midwife, they were great, babies and children all happily breastfeeding during the day. One great topic, sleeping 5 or more in the family bed. So sad but I understand totally how you feel. I am sure that Speech therapists are also feeling it as they have to now teach men how to speak in a more female way.
Oh my goodness! I am speechless and heart broken. LLL gave me so much as a new mom. It is misogyny at a grand scale for the organization, the culture to go in this direction.
Thank you for sharing your experience and your voice. I worked as a research assistant for Niles Newton, PhD, one of the original LLL founders, in the '70's. She was a warm, caring, brilliant woman. And I imagine she's turning in her grave right now at this crazy turn of events.
Furthermore there were always random AGP males calling the Warm Line...
👏🏻 beautifully written. I’m sorry that you had to lose your job but I’m confident you will still find a way to share your gifts.
Full of misinformation - do you not check articles before publishing?
Examples, please?
From the article "We are even told that The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, the go-to source of knowledge for women about breastfeeding for literally decades, must be renamed--because “womanly” is wrongthink, and “breastfeeding” is exclusionary."
Here is an article which explains why the title is being changed - https://www.llli.org/art-of-breastfeeding-news/
Clearly the title still includes 'breastfeeding' - hardly an indication LLLI considers it 'exclusionary'.
Nine hundred Leader and Leader applicants responded to the survey sent out regarding the title of the 9th edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. A summary of the results shared in the LLLI News of 4 April 2022 showed a higher percentage of respondents were displeased 42% with the prospect of Womanly being removed from the title than were pleased 33%.
WOMANLY
42% displeased with the prospect of removal of the word Womanly from the 9th edition title. (Note: this was even higher for non-English speakers - 57.3% French respondents, 50% Spanish respondents)
33% pleased
25% neutral.
ART
51% displeased with the prospect of removing †he word Art from the title
8% pleased
41% neutral
BREASTFEEDING
70% displeased with the prospect of of removing the word Breastfeeding from the title
8% pleased
22% neutral
It was stated that the title change was a "marketing and outreach decision". The cover of the English language edition will state clearly that it is “the 9th edition of ˇThe Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.”
Yes indeed - it's interesting that data can be used to back up different perspectives, isn't it? For example, a different way to present that survey data is to say that the majority of Leaders who responded either supported or were neutral about the removal of 'womanly'. And let's remember that the main concern shouldn't be the approval of Leaders, much more important is that the book's title appeals to mothers and parents who need the information and support it contains. And really, I'd imagine the publisher has good insights into this - they're hardly going to promote a title that will lose them money are they?
Yes, if activists and the alphabet mafia threaten to destroy the organization. Amazing to have a woman complain about connecting breastfeeding and women. First step towards replacing breastfeeding with chest feeding.
The only people who can breastfeed are women. Removing women from breastfeeding signals "gender neutrality," meaning people other than women (read men) can breastfeed. They cannot. There is no such thing as non-binary.
The link provides no clear explanation. "...more inclusive of parents with disabilities, different skin tones, mental health challenges, lower education levels, and disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, as well as young parents and LGBTQI+ families." In what possible way does 'Womanly' exclude any of the women in those categories?
Or "This allows us to keep brand continuity while sounding more appealing to the current generation of mothers and parents."
Appealing in what way?
Sorry...the article purposefully goes out of its way to NOT "explain why the title is being changed".
Language manipulation does not equal clarity.