Comments on: Edwina Froehlich, La Leche Co-Founder, Dies at 93

By: Michelle Teheux

Michelle Teheux — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:39:12 +0000

I must disagree that LLL is patriarchal. I suppose every woman has her own definition of feminism, but my definition does not require that a woman leave her babies to work. If yours does, that’s certainly your right. I just know that I’ve lived my life on my own terms, making my own choices, and in my mind that makes me a feminist. I am proud of my career and all my life’s accomplishments, but of everything I’ve done, I’m happiest that when my two teens were small they were raised by me — in a manner often called attachment parenting. Nobody is forcing anybody else to agree, but it’s non non-feminist, in my opinion, to say that this is the ideal. In fact, one could argue (and I would) that the idea that a woman must leave her children and work in order to be respected and feel fulfilled is itself rather patriarchal.

By: dragonfly

dragonfly — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:04:24 +0000

Insisting that only the mother can provide care for a child (not even fathers are considered an adequate substitute because their relationship with children is “different”) is far from a feminist position. While LLL does provide assistance to working mothers, it is provided by women who have never worked while breastfeeding since working mothers are not eligible to become leaders.

One woman I know was prevented from becoming a leader because she left her infant in the care of family while attending college classes a maximum of two hours a day. She was told that, by doing this, she was not meeting the LLL standard of constantly being present to meet your child’s needs.

All you have to do is read any of their publications–particularly their flagship book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding–and you will quickly get a sense of their politics. LLL is an extremely conservative, patriarchy promoting organization.

I’m a huge supporter of breastfeeding, but this country is in desperate need of a non-political breastfeeding organization that doesn’t push a “barefoot and pregnant” agenda.

By: Michelle Teheux

Michelle Teheux — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:58:03 +0000

Yes, La Leche League is a feminist organization! I’m proud to say I was a leader, though that was many years ago. My children are nearly grown and my nursing days are far behind me. I must say I never felt LLL’s belief that mothers and babies need to be together was un-feminist. Nor did staying close to my children make me feel I was missing out on life. It was a wonderful time for me. I had time to intensively mother my children, time to experience the joy of sisterhood with my fellow moms, and time to pursue some of my own interests. I just pursued my interests with my children nearby. I started two businesses — one in my home and one where I brought my children along — during those great days. I also did some very satisfying volunteer work that I would never have time to do today as a very busy working mother with two teens. I am so happy to encourage young moms today who feel torn between their desire to be full-time mothers and their desire to be modern women with full lives. I’m happy to let them know that they can indeed find fulfillment without necessarily taking a fulltime job outside the home. Of course, it’s always the individual mother’s choice whether she wants to stay home or work, something I never once saw LLL deny. I am saddened by Edwina’s death. She was a great, great lady and I personally know my life is better because of the organization she (while a SAHM, yet!) helped found.

By: dragonfly

dragonfly — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:28:25 +0000

While I do appreciate what LLL has done from breastfeeding, I am a bit taken aback by the term “feminist” being used in conjunction with a LLL founder. LLL is very clear in their materials that a woman’s place is at home with her children. While LLL does provide support for working mothers, you could not become a LLL leader if you worked while your children were under the age of 2-3 as recently as 15 years ago. This may have changed, but if it has it is only because the founders have finally started to die off. Make no mistake, LLL is far from a feminist organization.

By: blackberry

blackberry — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:04:57 +0000

I was 22 and an active duty sailor when pregnant with boy #1. Several moms invited me to Le Leche League meetings and what I learned at them changed my life, and completely altered my perception of what child rearing is all about. No doubt, the quality of our family life has been immeasurably improved by the efforts of Le Leche league, and kudos to all of the founding mothers.

By: Karen Collins

Karen Collins — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:51:36 +0000

I realize I owe a debt of gratitude to Edwina Froehlich; I am sure my decision to breastfeed my children was based on the education and encouragement she had given to the women of America. How lucky we were that she came along to remind us of how we are able to naturally care for our babies.