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Mike over at Boycott Nestle has given his readers a heads up on a press release put out by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. This press release is compelling, and describes how breastfeeding can help to combat violence and abuse against women. You can head over to Boycott Nestle for the full article. The article describes various ways in which abuse of nursing women occur, including discrimination against nursing moms in the workplace and the cases in which a nursing women's spouse views her breasts as his property. The article continues:
Further, attitudes towards the breast have been shaped by patriarchal constructions of sexuality and have led to harmful practices such as breast augmentation through cosmetic surgery or “breast ironing” as practiced in Cameroon. Community attitudes can affect a girl’s self esteem, her understanding
of her body, her self-image and how her family, friends and community treat her as a person, often limiting her choice in living a full and active life. When sexually abusive behaviour is directed towards her breasts, a girl may develop a life-long aversion to touch, which can affect her decision to breastfeed and be close to her baby when she becomes a new mother.
By increasing the rates of breastfeeding, more and more women will be exposed to the idea that breasts are for feeding a baby, and not for sexuality. Cultural attitudes towards women will change, and hopefully violence against women will decline.
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