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Should teenagers be exposed to breastfeeding?
–
Expert available for comment –
The debate about breastfeeding has been reignited after a Melbourne high school
cancelled a breastfeeding demonstration for Year 7 and 8 students because they
did not have parental consent.
RMIT University’s Dr Jennifer James said the school’s actions reflected Australian
culture, which continued to be concerned and embarrassed by breastfeeding.
“Children and teenagers need to see women breastfeeding and need to know it’s a
completely normal way of feeding a baby, for the culture to change,” Dr James
said.
“The fact that a school fears parents might have concerns about their teenagers
seeing a woman breastfeed is a sad reflection of the warped view we still have of
this completely natural act.
“Breastfeeding in public continues to be an issue in Australia, as the Kate
Langbroek and Kirstie Marshall furores attest.
“Health professionals are all trying to encourage breastfeeding as the natural way
to feed babies but our culture still does not support women, who often give up
earlier than they would like because of the difficulties of feeding in public.
“The culture needs to change, and one of the key ways to do this is by showing
kids and teens just how natural and normal breastfeeding really is.”
Dr Jennifer James is Lecturer and Course Coordinator in the Department of
Nursing and Midwifery at RMIT.
Dr James’ responsibilities include teaching and coordinating the Graduate
Certificate in Midwifery, Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, Masters of Midwifery and
the Graduate Certificate in Professional Lactation Consultancy.
She is also Vice President of the Australian Lactation Consultants' Association and
has extensive clinical experience, specialising in breastfeeding and human
lactation.
Dr James is available for interview.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Dr Jennifer James, 0411 409 375.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
29 June, 2009
NEWS 
