With the passing of “World Breastfeeding Week”, we are reminded of the importance of breastfeeding. It is a life-sustaining force for our young. It is both economical and practical; just the way God designed it to be.
Just last week a report surfaced of mom who was asked to cover up while breastfeeding her child in a museum.
The support she received from the media and individuals around the world proved society is moving towards acceptable attitudes in regards to breastfeeding in public. However, the fact she was asked to cover up to begin with shows we still have a ways to go.
But this mother is not the only woman making an empowering presence for breastfeeding support.
Larissa Waters is a former Australian senator who represented the Australian Greens for Queensland and was deputy leader of the party.
Her prestigious title and hard work for her country has made her a respectable name among Australians. She is not only a strong woman, but a strong supporter of the right to breastfeed wherever and whenever the need should arise.
People reported:
“In May, Waters became the first to breastfeed in Parliament after returning from a 10-week-long maternity leave. The senator, who is the co-leader of the left-wing Greens party, was key in passing legislation last year allowing parliamentary members to breastfeed in the senate chambers.”
This unprecedented legislation in Australia will hopefully help in setting the tone worldwide; that being a mother does not mean you can’t also effectively hold a useful and needed position.
Currently, there is a stigma in the professional workforce that breastfeeding inhibits work performance. This has been clearly shown to be a false assumption.
Waters was sure to make use of the new law in Parliament and breastfed her daughter often. The work didn’t stop just because her daughter had to eat.
People reported:
“The politician breastfed her daughter, Alia Joy, while addressing her fellow lawmakers in the chamber on Thursday. Waters was successfully moving forward a motion to help coal miners after a resurgence of black lung disease.”
Although breastfeeding may have been distracting at first during Waters’ speech, the issues were still presented. As more breastfeeding mothers utilize the right to feed their babies in Parliament—or anywhere—it will become normalized once again.
As Waters pointed out, “Well I think it’s slightly ridiculous that feeding one’s baby is international news — women have been breastfeeding for as long as time immemorial.”
Glass ceilings were further broken for breastfeeding mothers as pictures of Waters nursing her daughter were captured throughout Parliament, while walking to her office, presenting speeches, sitting in on meetings, and elsewhere.
Waters recognizes the positive role she’s had in changing the stigma on breastfeeding, saying, “But in another sense, this is the first time this has happened in our Parliament in 116 years, so it’s definitely world history-making.”
When asked by reporters why she chose to feed her daughter during an important speech regarding a serious issue, Waters replied, “Black lung disease is back among coal miners in Queensland and Alia was hungry”, according to Buzz Feed.
Despite her adoration by many Australian citizens and her active role in Parliament, Larissa Waters resigned from office on July 17th.
It came to light Waters held a dual citizenship with Canada and Australia. The accused swore to have no knowledge of this fact during an emotional address to her constituents.
Ms. Waters said, “It is with great shock and sadness that I have discovered that I hold dual citizenship of Australia and Canada,”
Per Section 44 of the Australian Constitution, citizens of other countries are not eligible to run for Federal Parliament. Despite this code being broken, Waters still holds favor with public opinion in media feeds.
BuzzFeed reported:
“Some supporters implored Ms. Waters to renounce her Canadian citizenship and run again in the next election.”
The Australian senator started a worldwide recognition that has outlived her short time in Parliament.
The United States House of Representatives passed a law called the Fairness For Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2017. This law requires federal buildings to provide a lactation room for breastfeeding or pumping breast milk.
While this is a good start for the nation’s recognition of breastfeeding mothers, it should not be the end.
The acceptance of breastfeeding mothers should be uninhibited and seen as a beautiful display of our love and affection for our young. Neither the time nor the place has any bearing on the rumbling tummies that need us.