Evenflo Encounters Controversy Over Breastfeeding Video
I had some good laughs while breastfeeding; the crazy situations, the leaking, the awkward positions. My husband and I shared some funny moments, often fuelled by lack of sleep and stress.
But I wouldn't have laughed at the "Feeding Frenzy" video by Evenflo that allegedly depicted breastfeeding as inconvenient, shameful and a hazard to in-law relationships, all to sell breastpumps.
Check out a description of the video here.
I say allegedly because once people started viewing the video on the Evenflo Facebook page, the complaints started rolling in. People threatened to boycott all Evenflo products and told the company in no uncertain terms that they were hurt by the depiction of breastfeeding as disgusting.
It got so bad that Evenflo took down the video and locked their Facebook page to stop comments from being posted. They eventually said on Twitter:
But that wasn't quite enough as moms asked Evenflo what they were going to do to repair the damage they had done by embarrassing them and by portraying breastfeeding as embarrassing and not as good for family relations as pumping. The negative comments keep getting posted on the wall, with people saying they will never buy a product from a company that disrespects them.
It also gave critics and opportunity to call out Evenflo on breaking the World Health Organization Code on not promoting bottles. Annie at PhDinParenting has a good outline of how Evenflo has changed their position on the promotion of bottle-feeding, as well as an analysis of what happened this week.
My guess is that Evenflo still doesn't quite understand why nursing mothers are so humourless. According to them, they were trying to start a "lively" discussion. When that lively discussion turned on them, they weren't too happy.
There is a fine line between laughing about the trials of breastfeeding and motherhood, and attaching shame to it. Evenflo crossed that line and seemed surprised that women reacted so strongly. In the end, no one is laughing.
Is breastfeeding ever funny? Did Evenflo cross the line?
Want more chaos? Last year I wrote why I'm happier that I had kids, even though the studies say I'm not.
« Do You Keep Score Or Do You Aim For Equally Shared Parenting? | Main | Parents Television Council Slams Toddlers & Tiaras And More... »
