AIBU to wonder if this is discriminatory by The Breastfeeding Network?

[MPharm]

Today a friend shared a Facebook post advertising a voluntary opportunity for pharmacists to work with The Breastfeeding Network to provide advice on medications during breastfeeding. This is a large part of my day job so I had a look out of interest. One of the essential criteria is 'experience of breastfeeding at least one baby for four months'. As a childless woman I therefore cannot apply. This role is not peer support, or help to establish breastfeeding. It is a pharmacist role advising on the passage of drugs into breastmilk. I can't see why lived experience is essential. AIBU to wonder if this is discrimination? AFAIK being childless is not a protected characteristic, but is infertility? Sex is, so it's surely at least discrimination against men.

In addition, someone has commented on their post expressing her sadness she cannot apply as she breastfed for less than 4 months. The reply says if she 'breast/chest fed at all' she may be considered. So their language can be inclusive of some groups, but not child-free women?

Yes, it would seem so.

Its absurd. You could easily be the most qualified for the post, and therefore best places to advise, however a lesser candidate will get the post because they have breast fed a child - something any mother could lie about!

People who are asking for advice on any aspect of breastfeeding might have additional questions and will benefit from lived experience.

I don't think it's discriminatory.

Although I find it strange they've specifically stated breast or chest fed...

On the basis that many health visitors and midwives advise and support directly on breastfeeding but have never even done it themselves this seems even more absurd

yes I don’t see how breastfeeding for four months or more makes you any more qualified for the competences relating to this JD

Have you contacted them to ask why experience is necessary for this particular job?

Why would any random who happens to have breastfed have any knowledge of the safe use of medication?
Are you sure it's an advisory role, op, and not a medical trial? .

Apply anyway what’s the harm

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Role-Description-DIBM-Volunteer-Pharmacist-v1.0-210722.pdf?fs=e&s=cl

Here's the link. You also need to have a Pharmacy degree plus lots of other essential criteria.

And yet the period dignity officer has never had a period?

Because he doesn't need one to fulfil a compliance role

So those who have had a mastectomy prior to pregnancy aren't able to apply? Those with a child with a disability or illness that prevented breastfeeding?

Don't know if it's discriminatory but it's utterly disgusting of them.

Yeah. That's not genuine occupational requirement.
They could specify female and defend it reasonably, but this is step too far.

That sounds very discriminatory. My first visiting midwife a few days after my child was born (who helped me with breastfeeding/latch/positions) was a man who had obviously never breastfed in his life! Nonetheless, he was very helpful. I’ve no idea if other midwives or lactation consultants had breastfed, I never asked. If you can do the job, what does it matter?

A man would apply for this job even if he didn't meet all the essential criteria - this has been proven. A man will apply for a job even if he only meets 70% of the essential criteria a woman will only apply if she meets 100%.

Be brave and apply even though you don't meet all the criteria.

I think that's crazy. I would apply anyway if I was you and explain why. As a side note happy to see this happening as a pharmacy reused to sell me ibruphoben the other week as I'm breastfeeding.

I can see why a charity that supports breastfeeding mums would want volunteers for any of their roles who have had direct experience of breastfeeding.

That's my point!

This, together with the Period Dignity Officer thing, illustrates that recruiters can't win. People are in uproar about (shock, horror) a man of all things becoming getting the period officer job. Yet when recruiters do make an advert that requires candidates to have experience of something, lots of people also think that that's wrong too.

Tricky one. Reading the job description you would a volunteer speaking directly to BFing mothers, expected to be empathic and empowering them according to the description. Surely the best placed person to do that is somebody who has BF themselves? What do you do when they start asking other BF questions, as they inevitably will.

It sounds like a peer support position but with the specific pharmacist knowledge.

I’d be amazed that the majority of women who wanted help with regards to latching on etc would be comfortable with a man doing it. I know I wouldn’t.

Sorry I ment to quote this

It doesn't sound anything like that to me!

Either way it’s a rubbish role requirement as it’s not something you could prove either way!

I’d go ahead and apply anyway OP. They’re not allowed to ask about children in an interview so can’t indirectly ask that as a breastfeeding question.

I did say it's a pharmacist role, all pharmacists need a pharmacy degree. I meet all the other essential criteria.

To those encouraging me to pursue it or apply - it's a voluntary role giving up 4-6 hours a week unpaid so I'm not interested in applying. I could locum with that time and earn a packet! Possibly another reason they're targeting mothers. I just thought it was interesting/disgusting/uncomfortable and worth highlighting on here.

@MPharm I was aiming the link at posters assuming that having breast fed was the only requirement