Communication on new building - room available for 'chest feeding'

[Sizzlysausage]

I got an email today about our new building (I work at a university). This explained space had been put aside in the new building for 'breast and chest feeding.' I find this so ridiculous I just need somewhere to vent (don't dare do so to any of my colleagues)!

Here you go:

https://equality.leeds.ac.uk/support-and-resources/bottle-and-breastfeeding-facilities/

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/latest-news/uhp-opens-dedicated-breastfeeding-room-for-their-staff--5971/

If only the TRAs were half as honest, eh? 😀

yes, I hadn't thought of that, but you're quite right. If anything it would be called infant feeding, wouldn't it. I've also seen nursing mothers?

Oh well, there you go!

It's ages since I've breastfeed.

As as aside, it's depressing how suspicious one gets over anything to do with this issue.

Because I don't know a single woman or mother that uses or wants to use "chest feeding" as a description of breastfeeding. Most think it's completely laughable, insane or offensive. Of course women are never actually asked, we are expected by people such as yourself to accept our own language for our own bodies to be changed without our consent. I see no empathy whatsoever for the majority women from your comments - only for those who want to deny the reality of their womanhood and expect everyone else to participate in this denial and facilitate it.

It may have escaped your notice - I don’t know how - but we’re not allowed to talk about this.

Women have been silenced on this issue. The ones who do speak up, are cancelled, fired from their jobs, and/or bombarded by death and rape threats.

Mumsnet is one tiny corner of the Internet where we are allowed to talk about this assault on our rights, safety, dignity. And my God, do the TRAs hate that.

I’m on the other side of the world, and have to come here to talk about it, because my country is so far down the rabbit hole, it’s suicide (especially as a public servant) to talk about it.

People I do talk to IRL think ‘chestfeeding’ is ridiculous at best, offensive and harmful at worst.

But as we’re silenced, as women, from talking about it, how can you possibly expect us to be able to give meaningful data?

@Sharptoothlemonshark me too! I am so over mental health proessionals telling me I can identify out of cancer (BRCA1 genetic - only affects the females in our family) and then some want to assume that because I have had my breasts removed due to cancer I must now be non-binary. School told my son that it might be possible for his mum to identify out of cancer when he asked and when I was distraught at the thought the school really assumed my mum and sister (his aunt and nana) had chosen to die as women instead of live as me the local area mental health crisis team parrotted the same line - yes you can identify out of cancer. I am so sick of this assumption that no breasts now means I must be non-binary or something other than a woman. Mental health professionals seem particularly anxious not to assume I am a woman and start asking me how I identify aftera mastectomy. I get that some people have surgery on their bodies to align with their minds but having had surgery for cancer the assumption now is that my mind must now follow my body. I am at a loss how to deal with these people and get past their trans fixation to get the help I need.

These trans men/non-binary people who have trauma relating to their breasts better hope they never get cancer in that area, because (currently at least until it gets hijacked) it will be referred to as breast cancer. My husband has breast cancer and although he doesn't have breasts (just moobs) he still had to have a mastectomy, removing any tissue in that area. I wonder how long before these groups start insisting it's referred to as chest cancer.

I am so over mental health proessionals telling me I can identify out of cancer (BRCA1 genetic - only affects the females in our family) and then some want to assume that because I have had my breasts removed due to cancer I must now be non-binary. School told my son that it might be possible for his mum to identify out of cancer when he asked

What?! that's insane and inane.
Surely you must have been particularly unlucky with the people you're having to deal with? But even if these are isolated incidents they're seriously problematic.

So having read what @worriedrn and other women have said, wtf would make you think it's not the vast majority of women who things using the phrase 'chest feeding' is really not a good idea for all sorts of reasons, @Dadjoke2 ?

@Tracetheline most women don't use the word "chestfeeding" for themselves, no. It's not a term that's used by many people. But there is a difference between not wanting "breastfeeding" to be replaced with "chestfeeding", and being offended by some people using the term for themselves. When a small number of people start using a new word for something, it's very Daily Mail-esque to leap straight to "THEY'RE TRYING TO REPLACE OUR WORD" which is rarely what is really happening, and it's not happening here.

@BayCityCoaster it's very convenient that if people agree with you, they agree with you. But also that if they don't agree with you, they agree with you really but are being silenced. Therefore everyone agrees with you. Absolutely cast-iron, that.

@2Old2Tango well that's a nasty thing to say. Yeah they probably would be distressed by the term breast cancer and you sound a bit gloaty about that. Maybe the term "chest cancer" SHOULD be used for men.

@ErrolTheDragon no it hasn't persuaded me that it's the vast majority of women. It's persuaded me that half a dozen women on this thread have that opinion. I read what @worriedrn said and it sounds like some ridiculous and upsetting stuff she's been told by various professionals but I really don't see how it's directly relevant to the thread.

@worriedrn thats awful. I am so sorry you are being treated like this.

it's very convenient that if people agree with you, they agree with you. But also that if they don't agree with you, they agree with you really but are being silenced. Therefore everyone agrees with you. Absolutely cast-iron, that.

Bizarre extrapolation there - I literally said we don’t have the data.

But you’re fine with it, so we should assume everyone is. Cast-iron, that.

How exactly are you measuring it?

I don’t know how many times it needs to be said but chest feeding does not exist. It’s not about “replacing words” it’s about how some people think it’s ok to describe reality with made up things. Why chest feeding? Other suggestions:

Thorax feeding
Costochondral wall feeding
Organs Which Must Not Be Named feeding

Why not one of these equally bonkers names? What made “chest feeding” the best falsity?

Well it's still your chest, it's not like it's a lie. Your breasts are on your chest. You hold a baby to your chest when you feed them so if you want to use that word when you talk about it, why not? Why do you want to police language?

You said we can't get meaningful data because women are silenced on the issue. The implication being that if a women says she's okay with it, you can't trust that opinion.

I want to police truth and accuracy, not language.

Well, we’re not allowed - outside MN - to say we’re not OK with it, so whatever data you have is incorrect.

Your pectoral muscles are on your chest too. We could have pectoral feeding if that’s the qualifier. Or hair. Some trans men have hair on their chests. Hair feeding. All fair, according to the rules of “who gives a fuck about accuracy”.

If a woman chose to refer to her own breastfeeding as "pectoral feeding" I would find it weird but I wouldn't get angry or think she should stop calling it that. Why would it be any of my business? You say you want to "police truth and accuracy" but you want to police it through language.

Therefore you can't say the vast majority of women find the word offensive, can you. Because all data would be inaccurate.

I suppose the question really is, why do YOU want to police language? The actual breastfeeding people have told you they find that particular term offensive, but you are policing their opinions and feelings by telling them they have to tolerate the offensive words just in case one imaginary person may possibly be offended.

'Baby-feeding room' would be better. It puts the needs of the child first.

And neither can you.

I'm not the one who's made claims about what the vast majority of women think.

Well, you’re taking issue with the idea that the majority have an issue with it, so…?