Not calling out sexist slurs and aggressions is not being a good ally to women. It’s time we took a stand against those forms of gender bias we witness in all of our environments, including online, writes Abbie Lepage.
Abbie Lepage: “I was recently told by an online troll that “breastfeeding past two years has no nutritional value” and that it was for “sexual reasons”. The fact is, there is no age when breast milk suddenly loses nutritional values, or becomes not beneficial.
Abbie Lepage: Infant feeding guidelines have dramatically changed since baby food products first launched. After recent reports questioned the safety of many staple baby food brands and a class action lawsuit was launched against them, the modern practice of ditching purees called baby-led weaning has become infinitely more palatable.
Residents of Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, a few Chinese provinces, and Zambia have paid menstrual leave. Recently Nova Scotia removed taxes on tampons and pads, with much public approval. Paid menstrual leave is the next logical step.
Abbie Lepage: “Representation matters. If you can see it, you can be it. So why is it that despite health professionals widely agreeing about the importance of breast feeding representations of breastfeeding in the local media are so scarce?”