http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...ces-inequality
I wonder if this article might rattle a few cages, I, however, think it raises some very important issues. In the UK at least, 'class' and social inequality are primary predictors of life chances - health, education, employment opportunities, social wealth (that may not be the correct term but by it I mean the quantity of beneficial relationships, personal, professional or whatever that increase people's quality of life).
Not that long ago I had a discussion with someone who is planning on having children but has decided not to breastfeed. She is pretty middle class and I expect that her decision, buffered by various socioeconomic advantages, will mean any potential children are most likely to thrive regardless.
On an individual level I think breastfeeding is very important. If I didn't think that it seems less likely I would be nursing my 16 month old. But on a structural level, I think it needs to be ranked after class inequality (which increases the likelihood of a plethora of disadvantageous health statuses) in terms of importance.
The same person I mentioned above is intelligent, kind, educated and would describe herself as a feminist. I think she would say choosing to breastfeed or not is a personal choice that should be respected. I think her choice is pretty 'free', however, for people who have little exposure to breastfeeding and no role models of a successful breastfeeding relationship, people who have less education and less information about the benefits of breastfeeding, people who are entrenched in a culture which sees breasts as just for men, people who see purposefully ambiguous toddler formula adverts telling them with scientific half truths of their benefits, how free is their choice? I think, not very.
I don't have the time to fully express (pardon the pun) coherently all I think about these issues but mostly I think this: the vast majority of parents, nursing or not, are doing their best for their children. We should treat them with respect. I think there is some pretty unpleasant rhetoric in some breastfeeding circles about people who formula feed and I'm not ok with that.
I think LLL is pretty great if you need some help with a breastfeeding issue or question but I feel there is a bit of a culture of breastfeed at all costs which I think would not be endorsed by their official mandates.