Friday
Jun012012
Is Breastfeeding the "Cause of an Outside Organization"? The Case of Moms Breastfeeding in Uniform
Friday, June 1, 2012
There has been a lot of stir about two moms who were photographed breastfeeding in their Air Force uniforms. The photos, taken by photographer Brynja Sigurdardottir, were comissioned by the Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Support group to help promote breastfeeding and encourage new and expectant mothers to breastfeed. I'm not displaying the photos here, because the photographer has made it clear that she owns the copyright and has not given permission for their distribution and use. However, you can view them on her facebook page.
The photos have created a stir for the same reason that breastfeeding photos always create a stir (sigh), but it seems there is one additional reason this time. According to Air Force News, this is the problem:
But is breastfeeding promotion really similar to a political cause? Or trying to sell something or push an ideology? Sometimes it may feel that way, both to people who are promoting breastfeeding and those on the receiving end of that promotion. However, breastfeeding is simply one thing that people can do to help live a healthy lifestyle and it is supported, in that sense, by the government itself.
This is not similar to someone carrying a "Vote Obama" sign, appearing in a Gatorade commercial, or attending a pro-life rally while in uniform. The picture of these women breastfeeding in uniform is a simple representation of support of a healthy living choice. It is also demonstrating work-life balance and the possibility of being both a mother and a soldier.
In many ways, the picture of the breastfeeding moms is like this picture of a soldier holding an apple on the U.S. Army Medical Department's Healthy Living page.
What do you think? Is appearing in a breastfeeding photo in uniform "pushing an ideology" or is it simply representing a healthy living choice supported by the U.S. government itself?
The photos have created a stir for the same reason that breastfeeding photos always create a stir (sigh), but it seems there is one additional reason this time. According to Air Force News, this is the problem:
The Air Force has no policy on breastfeeding in uniform. But it does forbid airmen from using the uniform to advance the cause of an outside organization.
“The uniform was misused. That’s against regulations,” Kosik said. “I want to be very, very clear about this. Our issue is not, nor has it ever been, about breastfeeding. It has to do with honoring the uniform and making sure it’s not misused. I can’t wear my uniform to a political rally, to try to sell you something or push an ideology. That was our point of contention.”
But is breastfeeding promotion really similar to a political cause? Or trying to sell something or push an ideology? Sometimes it may feel that way, both to people who are promoting breastfeeding and those on the receiving end of that promotion. However, breastfeeding is simply one thing that people can do to help live a healthy lifestyle and it is supported, in that sense, by the government itself.
This is not similar to someone carrying a "Vote Obama" sign, appearing in a Gatorade commercial, or attending a pro-life rally while in uniform. The picture of these women breastfeeding in uniform is a simple representation of support of a healthy living choice. It is also demonstrating work-life balance and the possibility of being both a mother and a soldier.
In many ways, the picture of the breastfeeding moms is like this picture of a soldier holding an apple on the U.S. Army Medical Department's Healthy Living page.
What do you think? Is appearing in a breastfeeding photo in uniform "pushing an ideology" or is it simply representing a healthy living choice supported by the U.S. government itself?
Reader Comments (69)
here is an example of abortion affecting the world as a whole: http://www.economist.com/node/15606229
This looks like dangerous territory to me. You are basically saying that as soon as I get pregnant society has a say about my personal choices. In fact, taking into account that article about the pill (my personal opinions about the objectivity of that article aside), you are saying that society has a say in all of women's personal choices. Note that society does not have that kind of say in men's personal choices. I get what you are saying about targeted abortions (although it could be argued that this is countered by wars which are depleting the young-male population), but I think the way to solve this problem is to make women equal to men, and therefore not as much of a burden to families in developing countries. In order to do that, you can't give society a claim over women's personal decisions.
I have no interest in hosting an abortion debate here. When I get home, this conversation gets shut down, so it is really a waste of time to continue.
I thought we were having a discussion about society's claim over women's choices. Sorry to stir the conversation to places you didn't want to go.
Gal:
To be clear, I think you misread or misconstrued my post. I mentioned "attending a pro-life rally" (i.e. an anti-choice rally) as an example. I would consider advocating to remove women's rights as a political activity that is inappropriate to undertake in uniform.
I second that!
So, you don't see the breast feeding issue as relatd to the women's rights debate at all?
The article posted by Karen above, makes the point of what I see to be the main issue; the apparent NEED for a policy by the various branches of military on breastfeeding in uniform.
Apparently NOT having a policy creates a problem for some women in the arms services because they are not formally given the right to do so. As such, it hinders many women from breastfeeding beyond 6 weeks when they return to duty. They may feel stigmatized, and /or not supported. I personally find this a totally unacceptable situation for our servicewomen to find themselves in. They are willing to give their lives for our country yet breastfeeding their child in uniform even while on base may cause them to get reported.
http://breastfeedingincombatboots.com/2012/05/forget-breastfeeding-publicwhat-about-uniform/
The author Robyn Roche-Paull, IBCLC served in the US Navy and wrote the book "Breastfeeding in Combat Boots". On her blog she states the following:
"But lets get down to the facts here:
There are NO polices or regulations in any of the military branches that either approve OR disapprove of breastfeeding in uniform.
Let me say that another way: There are no policies or regulations that permit or deny a mother’s right to breastfeed in uniform. It is left up to each individual command and/or superior officer or senior enlisted to determine if breastfeeding in uniform will be permitted, usually on a case-by-case basis. Meaning for many women in the military they will never know if today is the day they get reported for breastfeeding while sitting in the clinic waiting room or nursing their baby at the base daycare. This can and is a major deterrent for many women considering whether or not they even want to attempt to breastfeed when they return to duty at 6 weeks."
Not trying to start any wars here but that's why I'm not a big fan of the military. Working so hard to fight freedoms overseas while missing the big issues and taking away freedoms here. Breastfeeding isn't a political issue or an agenda and you would think the army etc would have bigger things to deal with than some stupid photos. A poster above mentions some other silly rules for while in uniform... More dumb rules don't make other dumb rules any less dumb. Maybe I just have a problem with authority...
It's unfortunate that breastfeeding is so controversial (!!!) that this is an issue at all. But for anyone who says it's obviously political because they are professional photos... I have a canvas-size print of my son breastfeeding hanging in my apartment. No, it wasn't a pro photo, but I did go to the lengths to have it blown up and displayed on my wall. No agenda - It's a meaningful part of motherhood to most women who breastfeed.
"The photos, taken by photographer Brynja Sigurdardottir, were comissioned by the Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Support group to help promote breastfeeding and encourage new and expectant mothers to breastfeed".
So yes, it was in the context of the promotion of a cause.
Bummer.
It would be like the apple-wielding soldier being commissioned by the American Apple and Apple Pie Association to take that picture, and the picture being put up on the American Apple and Apple Pie Association's website, rather than the Army taking the picture for their own Healthy Living website. Not because there's anything bad about apples or apple pie, or the American Apple and Apple Pie Association, but because the uniform can't be used to promote an outside cause, period.
Now, if they'd just been about their business and happened to be breastfeeding when they were photographed? No problem. Or if the Air Force had taken the picture of the two women breastfeeding for their own Healthy Living website, it would not be promotion of an *outside* cause. (Outside means the agency commissioning the photo is one outside the armed forces, not that breastfeeding is not relevant to soldiers in uniform, any more than apples are not relevant to soldiers in uniform.)
Pretty sure my answer is not going to be the popular one here, but yes, they are within their rights because the photo was commissioned by an outside agency.
The military isn't taking away your rights...we have an all volunteer army. Following those rules is what these women signed-on for. If you have not been a part of the military, you have no understanding of the need for discipline.
You may not support what the government has done with the military but we do need a standing military in this world.
The reason the context is important is because it is a photo session for an advocacy group. If these were private photos or candid photos, it would be a non-issue.
I would not do well in the military...thank goodness others volunteer so I do not have to serve in this way.
I think it can be related to women's rights, when we are advocating for better workplace support for breastfeeding, maternity leave, etc. But I don't think a couple of moms being photographed to support/motivate other moms is a women's rights issue.
I wouldn't call "Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Support Group" an advocacy group. I'd call it a support group.
I don't think a breastfeeding support group is like an American Apple and Apple Pie Association. I think it is more like a healthy eating support group.
It is an advocacy group when they put together a campaign. Any statement as a member of the military or appearance in uniform needs to be approved. If it was approved, wonderful. The photographer says it was, the National Guard says it wasn't...somewhere there was a miscommunication or confusion.
Michele, I agree with your analysis. A support group is still a separate organisation and it is promoting its own cause.
The US Navy and Marine Corps also have policies supporting breastfeeding - by delineating that commands must have a private place for moms to pump (not a bathroom) along with other things. Been around since 2007. That doesn't mean anyone knows about it though.
To put this as plainly as humanly possible.....The military is a volunteer organization with rules everyone has to follow...no exceptions....dont like it ? DONT JOIN...Im so sick and tired of all this crap about "o its not fair " guess what? rules are rules
[...] and fathers out there in cyberspace and on Facebook bottle-feeding in uniform). See this wonderful post by PhD in Parenting and her take on this aspect of the issue. By the way, the women in the photo [...]