MOTHERS’ SUPPORT GROUP

The next Mothers' Support Group, (for those in the expecting/infant/toddler phase), will be held on Tuesday, May 24th, from 12-1pm, at the Women's Center, located in Student Center West, Building 290.

Please join us for the film screening of Latching On: The Politics of Breastfeeding in America, by Katja Esson.

Film description: After filmmaker Katja Esson’s sister gave birth in Germany, she was able to breastfeed her baby anywhere and at any time. Returning home to New York, Esson found that breastfeeding was rarely practiced and largely unseen. Academy Award® Nominee Esson (Ferry Tales) turned her quirky eye on the subject and set out to learn why this was so. Her wide-ranging, frequently funny documentary highlights the intersecting economic, social, and cultural forces that have helped replace mother’s milk with formula produced by a billion dollar industry, and reveals the challenges and rewards for women who buck the trend.

Latching On draws on lively first-hand accounts from mothers of diverse ethnicities and economic backgrounds, as well as candid observations by pediatricians, healthcare providers, lactation specialists, and the proprietor of New York’s first breastfeeding boutique. Including data about paid maternity leave, hospital post-delivery policies, and workplace accommodations for nursing mothers, the film compares current US practices with standards adopted elsewhere. Tensions around public breastfeeding and "breast is best" promotion campaigns highlight society's perceived interest in regulating women's reproductive behavior, as well as the power of culture to assign sexual and moral meaning to mothers' bodies. Entertaining and insightful, Latching On is an important analysis of the politics of breastfeeding, illuminating the complexities behind a simple, natural act.

*Discussion will follow 34 minute film.

Open to all Mothers of any age, partnered or single. Students, staff, faculty, and community are welcome.

For a map and directions to the Women's Center, please visit:
http://women.ucsd.edu

Questions? Please contact Jessica Geipel jgeipel@ucsd.edu or 858-822-1479 (ext. 21479)