Comments on: The “Just as Good” Argument Lie http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:21:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Artemnesia http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1725 Artemnesia Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:31:01 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1725 I've always wondered if they put the "breast is best" rhetoric all over the place to protect themselves from future class-action lawsuits. They know they slogan doesn't really work anyway. I’ve always wondered if they put the “breast is best” rhetoric all over the place to protect themselves from future class-action lawsuits. They know they slogan doesn’t really work anyway.

]]> By: MamaBear http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1404 MamaBear Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:46:33 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1404 Cheryl, Congratulations on your baby!! :D Yup, The Lactivist and others have written about this sneaky tactic the formula companies use. They issue "breastfeeding guides" to tired postpartum moms and then turn around and sabotage new mothers with the illusion that supplementing will make things easier. *eyeroll* Good thing you're too smart for them! Cheryl,

Congratulations on your baby!! :D

Yup, The Lactivist and others have written about this sneaky tactic the formula companies use. They issue “breastfeeding guides” to tired postpartum moms and then turn around and sabotage new mothers with the illusion that supplementing will make things easier. *eyeroll*

Good thing you’re too smart for them!

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1403 Cheryl Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:35:38 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1403 I gave birth to my fifth child 11 days ago. Just a few days after I got home from the hospital I got a package from enfamil. The package said it contained two free gifts for both the breastfeeding mom and those who had chosedn formula. The package contained 2 cans of formula and a handy "breastfeeding guide". There are 35 pages to the "breastfeeding guide". Out of these, there are 4 pages that have info about breastdfeeding. Then there is a page on how to start supplementing. Every other page is an advertisement for a different type of formula made by enfamil. What a joke that this is a "gift" for the breastfeeding mom! I know better than to expect more from a formula company, but I wonder how many new moms take this information on blind faith. I gave birth to my fifth child 11 days ago. Just a few days after I got home from the hospital I got a package from enfamil. The package said it contained two free gifts for both the breastfeeding mom and those who had chosedn formula. The package contained 2 cans of formula and a handy “breastfeeding guide”. There are 35 pages to the “breastfeeding guide”. Out of these, there are 4 pages that have info about breastdfeeding. Then there is a page on how to start supplementing. Every other page is an advertisement for a different type of formula made by enfamil. What a joke that this is a “gift” for the breastfeeding mom! I know better than to expect more from a formula company, but I wonder how many new moms take this information on blind faith.

]]> By: MamaBear http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1398 MamaBear Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:33:31 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1398 Song, Yeah, I've visited that site (and yeah, total mindfuck). It was Peggy O'Mara (editor of Mothering) that alerted the world about it first, in her most recent editorial: http://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/quiet_place.html. I'm so glad she did. However, what's worrying me now is that just because a select few people (Mothering subscribers) know doesn't mean the rest of the world does. We need to make sure more people are aware of this so that they don't let the language and division-among-women-mongering of that site influence them and further divide us. I need to do more blogging. There's so much to say about this it's hard to know where to begin (and I've already got like 3-4 posts cooking)... *sigh* Song,

Yeah, I’ve visited that site (and yeah, total mindfuck). It was Peggy O’Mara (editor of Mothering) that alerted the world about it first, in her most recent editorial: http://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/quiet_place.html. I’m so glad she did. However, what’s worrying me now is that just because a select few people (Mothering subscribers) know doesn’t mean the rest of the world does. We need to make sure more people are aware of this so that they don’t let the language and division-among-women-mongering of that site influence them and further divide us. I need to do more blogging. There’s so much to say about this it’s hard to know where to begin (and I’ve already got like 3-4 posts cooking)… *sigh*

]]> By: Song http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1397 Song Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:55:42 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1397 Yes, the rhetorical sleight-of-hand that allows makers of formula (universally acknowledged as inferior to breastmilk) to somehow pass their product off as "just as good" is amazing. For the latest in underhanded mindfucks, check out stealth websites like www.momsfeedingfreedom.com -- funded by the formula industry, content provided by sell-outs and shills -- it pretends to be all about giving mothers a place to support each other whatever their "choices," but slips in negative framing and misinformation about breastfeeding at every opportunity. Yes, the rhetorical sleight-of-hand that allows makers of formula (universally acknowledged as inferior to breastmilk) to somehow pass their product off as “just as good” is amazing.

For the latest in underhanded mindfucks, check out stealth websites like www.momsfeedingfreedom.com — funded by the formula industry, content provided by sell-outs and shills — it pretends to be all about giving mothers a place to support each other whatever their “choices,” but slips in negative framing and misinformation about breastfeeding at every opportunity.

]]> By: MamaBear http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1395 MamaBear Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:33:53 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1395 Christine, Yes, you are correct! Formula companies "play nice" and pretend "breast is best." It's always grudgingly admitted, a tiny footnote that provides just enough (false) credibility as being "supporters" of mothers and babies. Very clever, because then people think to themselves "See! They can't be that bad. They themselves say 'breast is best!'" Formula companies know that if they start saying, "Formula is better than breastfeeding," people would revolt. It would be a stupid move for them, so the smart move for a formula company is to imply it's "just as good" (in their treatment of formula as the infant feeding norm in hospitals, a major medical authority to most people) but to simultaneously state explicitly that "breastfeeding is best." It's like a reverse psychology mindfuck of sorts. (Pardon my French.) Christine,

Yes, you are correct! Formula companies “play nice” and pretend “breast is best.” It’s always grudgingly admitted, a tiny footnote that provides just enough (false) credibility as being “supporters” of mothers and babies. Very clever, because then people think to themselves “See! They can’t be that bad. They themselves say ‘breast is best!’”

Formula companies know that if they start saying, “Formula is better than breastfeeding,” people would revolt. It would be a stupid move for them, so the smart move for a formula company is to imply it’s “just as good” (in their treatment of formula as the infant feeding norm in hospitals, a major medical authority to most people) but to simultaneously state explicitly that “breastfeeding is best.” It’s like a reverse psychology mindfuck of sorts. (Pardon my French.)

]]> By: MamaBear http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1394 MamaBear Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:25:05 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1394 Lesley, that's great to hear. I know Baby Milk Action is based in the UK, and I think they've done great work revealing formula marketing tactics there that try to side-step this "inconvenience" for them. For example, I think recently a magazine there had a celebrity bottle-feeding their daughter with a formula label on the bottle. Clearly product placement, and though it's hard to prove if the celebrity received money for doing that, it's definitely formula advertising... Just slicker and harder to prove than if it were on a billboard. Lesley, that’s great to hear. I know Baby Milk Action is based in the UK, and I think they’ve done great work revealing formula marketing tactics there that try to side-step this “inconvenience” for them. For example, I think recently a magazine there had a celebrity bottle-feeding their daughter with a formula label on the bottle. Clearly product placement, and though it’s hard to prove if the celebrity received money for doing that, it’s definitely formula advertising… Just slicker and harder to prove than if it were on a billboard.

]]> By: Christine http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1393 Christine Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:54:32 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1393 In the US, you hear "breast is best" from formula companies now ... but it's the fine print. Who are we kidding? They do not want more women to breastfeed! It's obvious with how they fight against hard core breastfeeding promotions ... how they target new mothers at hospitals, etc. In the US, you hear “breast is best” from formula companies now … but it’s the fine print. Who are we kidding? They do not want more women to breastfeed! It’s obvious with how they fight against hard core breastfeeding promotions … how they target new mothers at hospitals, etc.

]]> By: Lesley http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1390 Lesley Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:41:49 +0000 http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/2007/09/28/the-just-as-good-argument/#comment-1390 Have you seen what the UK has done with that language on formula? Companies will be fined if they promote their product for being "as good" as breastmilk. They are not allowed to tout it as having DHA and what-have-you. How deliciously progressive of them! Have you seen what the UK has done with that language on formula? Companies will be fined if they promote their product for being “as good” as breastmilk. They are not allowed to tout it as having DHA and what-have-you. How deliciously progressive of them!

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