The Powerful Way Lactavism Impacts Your World

Recently, a post about Lactavism from Kristen at Motherwise popped up in my Facebook timeline from a few years ago.

Lactavism comes in different forms and words. And Lactavism may mean different things to different people. However, Lactavists all have the same goal. We want to show the world that breastfeeding is normal. And mothers, who join together, have the power to do  it. Kristen said,

Have y’all been keeping up on the recent Nursing In Public controversy? The Concord Mall in Wilmington, DE harassed a mother for breastfeeding in a Hollister store. Local women started commenting on the mall’s Facebook page, calling them out on it. Whoever was running their Facebook page literally said, “It was an eyesore.” And then ALSO said, “Hope you guys don’t mind if I suck my wife’s breasts in public.”

For real. Literally said that. It’s sad and frustrating and highly disturbing that people respond this way to the act of feeding a child. But it’s also really funny to me that companies think they can do this and experience no repercussions.

Breastfeeding moms are a force to be reckoned with. Corporations and businesses keep making the mistake of thinking they can harass and degrade us, breaking the laws that protect our rights to nurse in public, and there will somehow be no consequences.

Naw. Not happening. You will not shame us. You will not control us. We will feed our babies wherever we go. We will feed them as covered or as open as we prefer. We will NOT go hide in a disgusting bathroom. We have the right to nurse in public; you do NOT have the right to harass us.

If you do harass us, we will flood your Facebook page with negative attention and possibly make national news. We will organize nurse-ins at your stores nationwide to protest your ignorance. And thus far, almost every time, you will end up issuing an apology and updating your employees on breastfeeding mothers’ rights.

Breastfeeding Mothers are Powerful

Ladies, we have so much POWER when we join together as a collective movement. Look here at what we did at the amazing, peaceful Women’s Marches all over the WORLD! Businesses, media, and individuals should quiver in fear of the collective force of women with a goal- particularly a goal oriented around the well being of their children, such as lactavism. Look at the nurse-in which was organized when Katy Lee and Hoda disparaged breastfeeding in public on the Today Show! According to the Department of Labor, 57% of women in the United States participate in the workforce. Of that,  70% of those women have children under the age of 18.  Mother’s are everywhere, and when we join together, we have a strong voice.

Lactavism is not about being a “Boob Nazi”

Normalizing Breastfeeding is not about shoving our boobs in everyone’s faces. There are all types of breastfeeding moms. Just as there are all types of moms. We are not all the same. Lactavism is about creating a safe place for mother’s to feed their children. Without “Butter’s” and judgments.

Photo by: Alegares Photography

That’s it. Organizations such as the La Leche League have garnered a reputation of being “Boob Nazi’s” over time. But it isn’t further from the truth of what lactavism tries to do.  Whether you and your child prefer to nurse under a cover, or in a quiet corner, or in the middle of Times Square, it should always be because Breastfeeding should be a choice made between a mother and her child. No one else.

However, in order to create that sense of normalcy, breastfeeding mothers need to unite together. We need to take brelfie’s, attend latch-on’s, share articles and blog posts. We need to let other mothers know they are not alone in their breastfeeding journey.

After all, to quote Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

So let’s impact our world, and our children’s future, together.

 Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.