The Breastfeeding Nazi - For Real?

[onthefly]

This is also a pet peeve of mine, I must admit. I don't get how you can complain about being judged and then throw NAZI at someone in the same breath? Anyway, interesting article.The percentages aren't the same - we have higher breastfeeding rates here - but bottle-feeders remain in the majority, nonetheless, so the point is still valid in the Aus context. As always, an interesting read, thank you miss Armadillo.

The Breastfeeding Nazi - For Real?
If there's one phrase that switches me off a conversation or article instantaneously, it's the utterance of the words "Breastfeeding/Tit Nazi".

And it's getting tiresome.

Really it's just plain offensive, as are variations like "Breastapo". Godwin's Law if you're not familiar with it is worth a read.

Mafia is no better:

An organised international body of criminals, operating originally in Sicily and now esp. in Italy and the US. Any similar group using extortion and other criminal methods.

Nope, not many breastfeeding mums tick those boxes either.

What also confuses me is where these "breastfeeding militants" are hiding? They must be super covert.

A flick through the press offerings include this, this and this and there have been more I haven't bookmarked.

So where exactly are all the articles that supposedly call formula "poison", written by these "judgy mummies"? How often do they feature in the press?

Sure we might get the odd piece from the perspective of a breastfeeding mother, but they only make the cut if they're respectful and understanding towards non breast feeders, ie when did you see an article referring to the formula feeding fascists or beady eyed bottle users?

And rightly so.

But this rule doesn't work both ways.

Just last year, Singer Lily Allen (one of the few I thought was really cool up until this point) tweeted:
"I'm not going to breastfeed."
Replies that followed included:
"Let's hope the breastfeeding Nazi aren't following!"
Before Lilly replied:
"I have every intention of breastfeeding, just fancied antagonising the milk mafia"
The tag line for this story read: "Lily Allen's wicked sense of humour caused a mini Twitter uproar yesterday"

Yeah....Wicked.....Sigh

How hilarious this is even vaguely socially acceptable.

Think that's bad enough? These comments are echoed by a DOCTOR, a registered Healthcare Practitioner.

...... click the link for more

FULL ARTICLE HERE - Analytical Armadillo - The Booby Whisperer: The Breastfeeding Nazi - For Real?

[PumpkinZulu]

Just shared this to my FB wall. Found myself nodding and whispering 'yes!' a lot lol!

[glenny_c]

I think comments like "Breastfeeding Nazi" etc are a way of people processing their own guilt and feelings of inadequacy by turning other people into the enemy (If that makes sense?)

I know for me- I ff DD after a really rough time in the beginning trying to establish breastfeeding and it just didn't work. Finally, for my own sanity I switched to formula. All the bad feelings I had in the beginning (and a little still now) had to do with my own feelings of failure and guilt that I couldn't breastfeed. I have met a lot of breastfeeding mothers, both on here and IRL, some of whom are very pro-breast. And I can honestly say that I have NEVER had anyone make a negative comment to me about how I fed my daughter. I expected bad comments and again- I own that. I expected it because it was how I felt about myself, not what anyone else had said.

I think it's another example of women turning on each other for no good reason. It's a shame

[Lenny]

I'm with her. Sigh.

An ABA member said to me the other day that one of her friends was 'complaining' about the ABA. Friend said to her 'you know the problem with the ABA? They are just ALL about breastfeeding'.

[glenny_c]

And for the record- The ABA were AMAZING for me when I was going through the trauma of difficulty breastfeeding, they helped me in every way possible and NEVER made me feel bad that I ended up going onto formula. I have joined them again for this pregnancy as there are things I want to do differently this time.

[Frantelle]

You know what I think these terms come from people feeling insecure with the choices they have made.

Its like people who use formula feel the need to explain why they chose to formula feed.

Im happy with the choice that My husband and I made and my DS is thriving I therefor have no guilt and dont feel the need to explain myself.

I do believe in information being readily available for both breast feeding and formula feeding. People need to make informed choices and then accept/ own the choices thst they make.

[onthefly]

PMSL Lenny! No false advertising there

I understand, at a personal level, where that anger comes from - it's the unresolved mourning process for women who haven't breastfed.
But it goes so much deeper than that in our society. It's sad.

[Jellyfish]

It's sad.

That is how I feel; sad Reading things like this really just upsets me.

[Artechim]

There was recently a stop smoking campaign on TV recently which featured a popular All Black. He had the camera crew follow him around for a morning and included in the final cut that was aired was a couple of seconds of him lovingly feeding his six month old baby from a bottle. The La Leche League complained (very publicly) and got the clip of him bottle-feeding removed.

Try to tell me that is not fanatical - that somewhere out there there aren't woman who can't even concede two seconds of air time to someone bottle feeding.

[LimeSlice]

I think the Breastfeeding Nazi is a very real thing. All you need to do is get on some of the FB pages and they are rife with overly judgmental, obsessive fanatics. Although the term "nazi" is not my word choice, I think it needs to be noted that the word has evolved to mean other things besides the literal noun.

In most areas of more "natural" parenting you will find this women - the circumcision debate, the formula debate, the homebirth debate.... All of these areas are full of hardline extremists, who will offer their unwanted opinions in almost violent terms. Some of the language they use is quite scary.

But if you are happy with your choices, then what do you care what others think? I personally choose not to get too involved in the breast vs formula thing - because quite frankly I don't think there should be a choice. But that is just me, so maybe I am a breastfeeding nazi? I'm ok with that. I am not vocal about it unless directly asked, but I know lots of others who will go out of their way to harass and abuse someone and make their feelings known to the detriment of the cause.

[Lenny]

There was recently a stop smoking campaign on TV recently which featured a popular All Black. He had the camera crew follow him around for a morning and included in the final cut that was aired was a couple of seconds of him lovingly feeding his six month old baby from a bottle. The La Leche League complained (very publicly) and got the clip of him bottle-feeding removed.

Try to tell me that is not fanatical - that somewhere out there there aren't woman who can't even concede two seconds of air time to someone bottle feeding.

I bet there would have been plenty of comments if it had shown his childs mother breastfeeding too.
Perhaps not fanatical - just trying to stem the tide of normalising formula in the media.

[Dansta]

when i struggled with feeding dj - i copped flack for giving him a bottle from a stranger - it was ebm but i copped it. with vic my sil took offence and i was told to feed in another room.

both sides of the fence i copped it. i get people have their ideals but i get shirty when eather side of this debate shove it down my throte.

[wysiwyg]

Redrobinridinghood - you have just made the two points I was going to make, but have put far more succinctly.

The father must feed the child to bond is very pervasive in our society, people seemed to think I was doing some sort of disservice to my child and husband by not providing an opportunity for DH to feed.

[Loveinamist]

Redrobinridinghood - you have just made the two points I was going to make, but have put far more succinctly.

The father must feed the child to bond is very pervasive in our society, people seemed to think I was doing some sort of disservice to my child and husband by not providing an opportunity for DH to feed.

I could almost write an essay on how damaging and undermining this belief is to womanhood and motherhood but it is so ingrained I dare not for fear of offending...how many generations will it take for us to reclaim motherhood??? Sorry OT but really passionate about this!!!