The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

 

 

Working in a diverse military community, we see incidences of bias.  Recently we have had children in our program that are still being breast fed past the age of 12 months.  As a mother and professional in a man’s world this practice can be viewed as inappropriate or gross.  Mothers that breastfeed their children are already scrutinized for feeding their babies, and to see this practice being taken further in to the pretoddler age group has added a bias with these women.  I have to admit that seeing breastfeeding being completed with the children after 12 months was a shock, but after observing the process and reading about the amount of serious allergies our children are suffering from it makes sense to continue breastfeeding.  But because of ignorance and lack of experience with the wellbeing of children society has shun the breastfeeding community.  Cultural differences have played a part in the continuing of breastfeeding children after infancy.  For most African and Hispanic cultures this is a norm practice.  Living in the U.S. has brought about these cultural differences and have put a spotlight on the subject. 

Discrimination is not visible but the equity of these women is visible.  Opinions are heard among the community and it is disturbing to hear them.  The benefits from breastfeeding outweigh any type of ignorant comment.  My feelings on this subject are very one sided.  As a mother that breast fed her children up until 6 months and not by choice; I feel that I would have breastfed up until 12 months. To change this bias against women who breast feed their children will take lots of educating the public.  Showing the benefits of breastfeeding will assist with this.  As an administrator it is my job to insure that my early childhood educators are aware of cultural differences and the amount of benefits that come with breastfeeding after 12 months of age.  Having those conversations and having training sessions to help educate our staff to ensure that they understand how to support our families that are struggling to keep their children healthy with the practice of breastfeeding.