missie_mack
26-04-2011, 17:38
MUMS who breastfeed are seen as "less competent" than those who bottle-feed their babies. Montana State University researchers used a series of experiments to determine what people thought about women who breastfeed.
Their results show such women are viewed as less able to work and even thought of as more likely to be poor at maths.
In one experiment, college students were paired with female researchers, who pretended to be just another participant. During a break, the researcher listened to a voice-mail message that was loud enough for the participant to overhear.
The researchers alternated between four messages, including one that implied she was breastfeeding.
The participants were asked whether they would hire their partner if they saw her profile on an employment website.Those who received the breastfeeding message were rated lowest in maths and work competence and were less likely to be "hired" by their partners than those who were thought to be mothers who did not breastfeed.
"It's possible women who breastfeed are viewed as less competent because observers see the women as objects, as is sometimes the case when women are sexualised," researcher Jessi Smith said.
"Incompetence comes because when you think about an object, you don't think of it as something that's intelligent or smart or thinking."
Australian Breastfeeding Association spokeswoman Tracey Kelly said the results were surprising because well-educated women are most likely to breastfeed.
"It's a well-informed decision backed by research. Doing so suggests you are competent," she said.
Warradale mother-of-three Sally McDonnell breastfed daughters Lucy, 5 and Elsie, 4, and continues to do so with Chloe, eight months. "I think breastfeeding shows you're not incompetent, there's lots of known benefits," she said.
"I wouldn't say I've experienced prejudice.
"People just seemed surprised when I expressed milk, that it seemed like a hard thing to do."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/breasts-best-until-you-want-a-new-job/story-fn6bqphm-1226044653223#
Seems society has a long way to go to change their ideas on breastfeeding and how they discriminate against those who do :(
Their results show such women are viewed as less able to work and even thought of as more likely to be poor at maths.
In one experiment, college students were paired with female researchers, who pretended to be just another participant. During a break, the researcher listened to a voice-mail message that was loud enough for the participant to overhear.
The researchers alternated between four messages, including one that implied she was breastfeeding.
The participants were asked whether they would hire their partner if they saw her profile on an employment website.Those who received the breastfeeding message were rated lowest in maths and work competence and were less likely to be "hired" by their partners than those who were thought to be mothers who did not breastfeed.
"It's possible women who breastfeed are viewed as less competent because observers see the women as objects, as is sometimes the case when women are sexualised," researcher Jessi Smith said.
"Incompetence comes because when you think about an object, you don't think of it as something that's intelligent or smart or thinking."
Australian Breastfeeding Association spokeswoman Tracey Kelly said the results were surprising because well-educated women are most likely to breastfeed.
"It's a well-informed decision backed by research. Doing so suggests you are competent," she said.
Warradale mother-of-three Sally McDonnell breastfed daughters Lucy, 5 and Elsie, 4, and continues to do so with Chloe, eight months. "I think breastfeeding shows you're not incompetent, there's lots of known benefits," she said.
"I wouldn't say I've experienced prejudice.
"People just seemed surprised when I expressed milk, that it seemed like a hard thing to do."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/breasts-best-until-you-want-a-new-job/story-fn6bqphm-1226044653223#
Seems society has a long way to go to change their ideas on breastfeeding and how they discriminate against those who do :(