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"chest feeding" men should not be put above women and babies by La Leche League. Reasonable?

293 replies

GenerativeAIBot · 14/11/2024 16:40

How many women will self exclude based on this outcome? How many children will suffer because of it? Anything more than zero is unacceptable

This is the direct and foreseeable outcome of ever allowing the word woman to be mutable. This is the ultimate outcome of all these progressive policies, generally well meaning, with terrible outcomes

https://archive.ph/NsquC

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/breastfeeding-charity-chief-quits-over-transgender-policy-zhvhl8nps

Identity politics should be dead and we need to bury it.

Trustee quits breastfeeding charity over trans policy

Miriam Main resigned from La Leche League over a policy that allows biological men to attend support groups

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/breastfeeding-charity-chief-quits-over-transgender-policy-zhvhl8nps

OP posts:
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8
DazedAndConfused321 · 15/11/2024 12:17

I see it as I have a very rare medical condition that causes issues with my nerves and co-ordination. I don't join in on support groups for people with sciatica, because we have different nerve issues. There are no support groups for people with my condition because it's rare but also not a big deal generally. So if I need support, I'd have to make my own group.

If a trans man (i.e. female to male) wants to breast/chest feed and needs support, they need a men's group! Make their own!

izimbra · 15/11/2024 12:15

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 15/11/2024 10:00

@izimbra has missed quite a few simple questions. You have to wonder about the motivations.

There's no point. I've gone through these threads and read your comments.

The reality is this: all the huge problems facing women right now - the state of the NHS, women's lack of access to housing, appalling postnatal care, women's poverty - and you're typing hundreds of thousands of words and expending vast amounts of energy in a state of fury about any and all organisations showing acceptance and support of a tiny and marginalised community. (in fact a community so small that most of you would never know even existed if you hadn't made engaging in GC debates on social media a central core of your identity).

It's boring and frankly a bit bizarre.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/11/2024 12:05

I think it must be incredibly hard bearing a child as a trans man, and probably extremely distressing. I'd imagine going to a class that called it "breastfeeding" would be the least of their worries

//

Agree with this and actually have to ask - if your female biology distresses and triggers you to the degree everyone around you is compelled to change their language and processes to lessen this, why in gods name (accidents aside obv) would you put yourself through that all womanly experience of pregnancy? Confused

GiveMeSpanakopita · 15/11/2024 12:04

If I ever see a dude trying to force a child to suck on his nipples, I shall call the police.

I'll report him for CSA and I'll report me for ABH due to punching him in the face.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 12:02

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 11:40

Or the equally grim ‘bonus hole’.

I mean, what is it about the female people who reject their materially real sex that seems to mean they must enforce such misogynistic terms.

It is like a male who has extreme body modification declaring that a cavity created to fit a male penis or a sex toy is what a vagina is. Those male people have reduced the female body part to being a fuck hole through their actions. You really cannot get past the misogyny that is apparent in this concept either.

I mean, bonus hole makes slightly more sense than front hole to describe a hole which isn't at the front, if you consider it an extra hole between the anus and the urethra, which everyone has.

But "bonus" has positive connotations, which seems weird when the people using this term wish they didn't have one and that they had a penis instead, and the people who have a hole created out of penile tissue call it a vagina.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 11:59

Szygy · 15/11/2024 11:33

Unfortunately I fear they’re trying, with eg the abysmal and deeply offensive 'front hole'.

Just to go back to @BalletCat's The word cis is a real word that has a meaning. Just because you don't like it doesn't it isn't a thing - you what now? Words are 'real words'…..well…..yes? And? Why does that mean we can’t object to them, or analyse the ways in which the definition of words are being twisted and/or misapplied? What a strange and confused statement. You can’t be the sole arbiter of language (much as the TRAs are trying to be).

But the vagina isn't even the hole closest to the front. That's the urethra, surely.

jeaux90 · 15/11/2024 11:49

The word Cis is like having a word for people that don't collect stamps.

Completely bloody pointless.

Males who want to breastfeed are perverts. Disgraceful.

Artistbythewater · 15/11/2024 11:48

I find this situation dangerous, repugnant and surely against every single safe guarding policy on earth.

They may as well shut up shop now, the damage I suspect is irreparable.

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 11:40

Szygy · 15/11/2024 11:33

Unfortunately I fear they’re trying, with eg the abysmal and deeply offensive 'front hole'.

Just to go back to @BalletCat's The word cis is a real word that has a meaning. Just because you don't like it doesn't it isn't a thing - you what now? Words are 'real words'…..well…..yes? And? Why does that mean we can’t object to them, or analyse the ways in which the definition of words are being twisted and/or misapplied? What a strange and confused statement. You can’t be the sole arbiter of language (much as the TRAs are trying to be).

Or the equally grim ‘bonus hole’.

I mean, what is it about the female people who reject their materially real sex that seems to mean they must enforce such misogynistic terms.

It is like a male who has extreme body modification declaring that a cavity created to fit a male penis or a sex toy is what a vagina is. Those male people have reduced the female body part to being a fuck hole through their actions. You really cannot get past the misogyny that is apparent in this concept either.

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 11:34

BalletCat · 15/11/2024 08:30

The word cis is a real word that has a meaning. Just because you don't like it doesn't it isn't a thing.

I stand by the fact trans man/woman is a simple self obvious term and the only peouwho don't understand it are either stupid and can't understand the semantics of the English language or are misunderstanding on purposes to make a point, like you have done in your post. Your prejudice is showing.

The other significant issue with ‘cis’ is that its very usage forcibly categorises someone into having a philosophical belief that they may or may not have. It is very problematic for those who do not have a ‘gender identity’.

In fact, to extrapolate it out : if ‘cis’ excludes those who do not ‘identify as having a gender aligned with the sex they were born’ then the trans gender community would be fucking huge. Because it would include everyone who doesn’t believe in gender identities at all. Not through deliberately self-categorisation as ‘agender’ but simply through rejection of anything to do with that philosophical belief that is the foundation for gender identity and the theories that shape those identities.

Because, the only commonality with all those claiming a transgender identity is philosophical belief. Not a medical condition according to transgender people and academics and medical professionals who are transgender and shaping public awareness. No scientific and robustly established material facts.

So only philosophical belief.

And I would be pleased to know just what other philosophical belief should be given the power to shape a whole populations language to the extent that we are seeing these language changes being demanded?

If someone who was religious called me a non-believer, I cannot dispute that. Because it reflects my reality. I don’t believe in their religion so in their religion centred language that is what I am. It could be considered neutral in that respect. It doesn’t change my belief.

However, calling me ‘cis’ is not neutral. It falsely categorises my beliefs and is not a neutral act at all. Calling me ‘cis’ coercively forces me to believe in gender identity and the theories that are foundational to them.

“I stand by the fact trans man/woman is a simple self obvious term and the only peouwho don't understand it are either stupid and can't understand the semantics of the English language or are misunderstanding on purposes to make a point, like you have done in your post. Your prejudice is showing.”

If you balletcat want to accept the terms ‘cis’ or ‘trans’ for yourself. Go for it.

What you should not be doing is trying to shame any person who doesn’t believe in your personally constructed reality that doesn’t reflect established and proven scientific fact. It really makes your accusations of stupidity and prejudice look like mere projection.

Szygy · 15/11/2024 11:33

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 11:23

I'm not sure I quite follow.

"Breastfeeding" has been renamed "chestfeeding" which is an absolutely nonsensical term because you cannot feed a baby from a male "chest". You can only feed a baby from a female breast which has mammary glands inside it.

If we are going to invent a nonsensical and non scientifically accurate term for breastfeeding in order to pretend that it has nothing to do with being female, why have we not also invented nonsensical and non scientifically accurate terms for menstruation, cervix and other female body parts?

Unfortunately I fear they’re trying, with eg the abysmal and deeply offensive 'front hole'.

Just to go back to @BalletCat's The word cis is a real word that has a meaning. Just because you don't like it doesn't it isn't a thing - you what now? Words are 'real words'…..well…..yes? And? Why does that mean we can’t object to them, or analyse the ways in which the definition of words are being twisted and/or misapplied? What a strange and confused statement. You can’t be the sole arbiter of language (much as the TRAs are trying to be).

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 11:23

RadioBamboo · 15/11/2024 11:13

The language used has to straddle the dysphoria and biological reality. A female body lactates and menstruates as a matter of fact. But language can be chosen that enables those facts to be described but avoids emphasising their female nature. Similar slightly obfuscatory language is used elsewhere in medicine and life where the reality is uncomfortable or brutal.

I'm not sure I quite follow.

"Breastfeeding" has been renamed "chestfeeding" which is an absolutely nonsensical term because you cannot feed a baby from a male "chest". You can only feed a baby from a female breast which has mammary glands inside it.

If we are going to invent a nonsensical and non scientifically accurate term for breastfeeding in order to pretend that it has nothing to do with being female, why have we not also invented nonsensical and non scientifically accurate terms for menstruation, cervix and other female body parts?

HermioneWeasley · 15/11/2024 11:16

Bloody good point @MissScarletInTheBallroom

RadioBamboo · 15/11/2024 11:13

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 11:03

Back to trans men and "chestfeeding", riddle me this.

Apparently we are supposed to call it "chestfeeding" because calling it "breastfeeding" is upsetting to people who see breasts as a female body part and don't wish to consider themselves female, even though they have kept their breasts and all their other female body parts in order to become pregnant, give birth to and feed a baby.

But the people who apparently find the word "breastfeeding" triggering because it includes the word "breast" (a female body part) are the same people for whose benefit terms such as "menstruators" and "people with cervixes" are being used.

If "breastfeeding" is unacceptably triggering for you, surely being referred to as a "menstruator" or a "person with a cervix" is also triggering for the same reason.

It seems to me that when we wish to use the term "women" to talk about women's health issues, we are being told to refer to individual female body parts instead for the benefit of female people who believe "women" is an identity they do not share, but when the term we are already using relates to female body parts (such as "breastfeeding") it is still unacceptable and still needs to be changed.

This makes me think it actually has nothing to do with triggering anyone's dysphoria and is actually all about control, hampering women's ability to describe their own biological reality, and forcing compliance with an ideology most of us don't share, regardless of the circumstances.

Edited

The language used has to straddle the dysphoria and biological reality. A female body lactates and menstruates as a matter of fact. But language can be chosen that enables those facts to be described but avoids emphasising their female nature. Similar slightly obfuscatory language is used elsewhere in medicine and life where the reality is uncomfortable or brutal.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 15/11/2024 11:03

Back to trans men and "chestfeeding", riddle me this.

Apparently we are supposed to call it "chestfeeding" because calling it "breastfeeding" is upsetting to people who see breasts as a female body part and don't wish to consider themselves female, even though they have kept their breasts and all their other female body parts in order to become pregnant, give birth to and feed a baby.

But the people who apparently find the word "breastfeeding" triggering because it includes the word "breast" (a female body part) are the same people for whose benefit terms such as "menstruators" and "people with cervixes" are being used.

If "breastfeeding" is unacceptably triggering for you, surely being referred to as a "menstruator" or a "person with a cervix" is also triggering for the same reason.

It seems to me that when we wish to use the term "women" to talk about women's health issues, we are being told to refer to individual female body parts instead for the benefit of female people who believe "women" is an identity they do not share, but when the term we are already using relates to female body parts (such as "breastfeeding") it is still unacceptable and still needs to be changed.

This makes me think it actually has nothing to do with triggering anyone's dysphoria and is actually all about control, hampering women's ability to describe their own biological reality, and forcing compliance with an ideology most of us don't share, regardless of the circumstances.

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 10:12

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 15/11/2024 10:00

@izimbra has missed quite a few simple questions. You have to wonder about the motivations.

Indeed Wes. But I am ever the optimist and believe that maybe it is just because they miss the questions rather than their sole purpose for posting is to shame people who they disagree with.

Maybe they will answer the other questions too?

Or maybe they really have nothing to contribute except for posts intended to minimise legitimate concerns, and demonise those raising legitimate concerns. Considering I have seen them post that they rarely come across people with transgender identities in real life, they seem to then spend a whole lot of time dismissing the experiences of others based on their own experience and posting shaming posts when others are having discussions.

But hey, we may get an answer yet!

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 15/11/2024 10:04

BalletCat · 15/11/2024 00:54

Finally some sense.

Get your flame suit on though, trans women are despised on Mumsnet.

There was no sense in that post. At all.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 15/11/2024 10:00

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 09:51

Just posting this here so @izimbra doesn’t miss it. Because they missed similar questions on another thread where they used the exact same shaming technique.

So just to pull out the most important question :

How many women do you feel is acceptable to you to be harmed by self excluding because policy allowed a male to join a breastfeeding group?

@izimbra has missed quite a few simple questions. You have to wonder about the motivations.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 15/11/2024 09:58

RedHelenB · 15/11/2024 06:29

Surely if you identify as a man, you don't put your body through the uniquely female pregnancy and birth.

Exactly. It just shows how nonsensical this whole ideology is, if a trans man chooses to get pregnant, give birth and breastfeed. If they were truly a man, and they expected everyone to believe they were a man too, the whole experience would surely be abhorrent to them, no?

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 09:51

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 03:03

How many women do you feel is acceptable to you to be harmed by self excluding because policy allowed a male to join a breastfeeding group?

How many women do you feel is acceptable to be harmed before women are allowed to discuss the policy without being shamed by those who support the policy changes or just dismiss the significance of the changes?

Just posting this here so @izimbra doesn’t miss it. Because they missed similar questions on another thread where they used the exact same shaming technique.

So just to pull out the most important question :

How many women do you feel is acceptable to you to be harmed by self excluding because policy allowed a male to join a breastfeeding group?

HermioneWeasley · 15/11/2024 09:33

izimbra · 15/11/2024 00:37

You're vastly more likely to die in a random car accident on your way to a breastfeeding cafe than tragically encounter a breastfeeding transgender woman at one, but don't let that stop you getting very very angry and scared at the hypothetical likelihood of it happening.

BiscuitBiscuit

What a bizarre argument.

there is no justification for a baby ever being fed chemically induced secretions from a male nipple. There is no way that is ever beneficial for the baby. So it should never, ever happen.

we’re against child abuse all the time, not matter how rare or frequent.

lifeturnsonadime · 15/11/2024 09:32

LostittoBostik · 15/11/2024 08:40

Be careful how you through language around.
Rejecting identity politics means you cannot insist on protecting the right to breastfeed in public ("exposing yourself") because you are a breastfeeding mother

What a load of rubbish.

Just because males have no place excreting chemicals into babies mouths in order to act out their fetish doesn't mean that women should lose the right to feed their babies.

Are you so sexist that you think if men can't do something women shouldn't be able to?

TheKeatingFive · 15/11/2024 08:58

I'm wondering how/why we became so afraid to call out perversion? A man wanting access to a woman's breastfeeding group and/or a man who who wants to 'breastfeed' a baby is a pervert.

It is important to be able to say this so that we can take steps to protect the vulnerable babies and women involved.

Helleofabore · 15/11/2024 08:56

BalletCat · 15/11/2024 08:30

The word cis is a real word that has a meaning. Just because you don't like it doesn't it isn't a thing.

I stand by the fact trans man/woman is a simple self obvious term and the only peouwho don't understand it are either stupid and can't understand the semantics of the English language or are misunderstanding on purposes to make a point, like you have done in your post. Your prejudice is showing.

The term 'cis' is meaningless because, as I pointed out, in the discussions around the two male boxers, the term includes any male person who has a DSD yet has a body that is **formed around the production of small gametes, ie. a male person with a difference of sex development that have testes or testes tissue. Such as Caster Semenya.

There is no word left for female people. Because even male people are now saying they are also ‘female’. When ^^ female means only a person of the sex category where that person's body has been formed around the production of large gametes, regardless of whether the body does, has or ever will produce those large gametes. ie that requires the presence of ovaries or ovarian tissue - never testes.

In fact, we now have examples of many male people declaring that they are female people. So even the word for female has become meaningless in that sense.

But back to the word 'cis'. A word that was repurposed from its original usage and is meaningless for the purpose of discussing female people in its current usage. It has been used in academic papers as well in an attempt at using inclusive language which then renders the papers meaningless because the term is not describing a unique grouping of human bodies, even when it claims to be doing just that.

To see how this works, we have been told that 'girl' and 'woman' both now include:

1 Male person who has been incorrectly registered as a female at birth, but has a male body **.
2 Any male person has now claimed a transgender identity using those labels.
3 And any person who has a female body ^^.

Under the label of 'girl' and 'woman', extreme transgender activists have been telling us for years that those labels break down into two types of girls or women:

Cis and Transwomen/transgirls.

These terms mean:

Cis
= (1) Male person who has been incorrectly registered as a female at birth, but has a male body **

and

= (3) Any person who has a female body^^

Trans
= (2) Any male person has now claimed a transgender identity using those labels.

Therefore there is no unique word to mean female people who have a body ^^ formed around the production of large gametes.

Cis is meaningless as a unique description for female people and it always was. It is also misogynistic because it leaves female people with no unique word for their needs.

It is not prejudiced to point this out.

"chest feeding" men should not be put above women and babies by La Leche League. Reasonable?
VeryCheesyChips · 15/11/2024 08:55

LostittoBostik · 15/11/2024 08:40

Be careful how you through language around.
Rejecting identity politics means you cannot insist on protecting the right to breastfeed in public ("exposing yourself") because you are a breastfeeding mother

Bollocks. The right for WOMEN to breastfeed in public must continue to be protected. Women and women alone.