Google has unrivaled power to make waves on the Internet. From Gmail to Google search, YouTube to Blogger, Google products reach eyes all over the globe.
Wouldn't it be amazing if Google used its global influence to help us normalize breastfeeding? Of course the real normalization of nursing happens every time a mother breastfeeds a child. But nursing is also normalized each time we see it on TV, in books, on Facebook, and yes, on Google and the Internet as a whole. Sadly, nursing pairs still face discrimination and criticism. Each little step we make to celebrate and normalize breastfeeding can help.
Hygiea recently shared that the California Breastfeeding Coalition had an idea to petition Google to dedicate one of the Google Doodles to breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week.
I started brainstorming several ideas of what that Doodle might look like -- we could turn Google's oo's into breasts, and a simple outline of mama/baby would go above and below the word. We could turn the little "g" into the blue and white international breastfeeding symbol. We could transform the bottom of the "g" into a baby's head and have a mama nursing incorporated into the background.
Along with the Doodle ideas, I was inspired to come up with a list of several more ways Google could help us normalize breastfeeding. The beautiful artwork in this post is courtesy of my very talented friend, Joni Rae of Tales of a Kitchen Witch, who made the Doodle and the Pegwoman below. Thanks also go to my husband, Tom Ford, who created the fake Google street view, Calendar, and Gmail images.
You can help us get Google's attention by sending them an email -- there is an example email at the bottom of this post.
So, Google, what do you say? Will you help?
Would you love to see Google help us normalize breastfeeding? To get these ideas on Google's radar, send an email to proposals@google.com. Here is a sample email adapted from one at Hygeia:
Dear Google,
We, the breastfeeding support and promotion community, would be delighted to have Google help us normalize breastfeeding throughout the world. World Breastfeeding Week takes place from August 1-7, 2012, and Dionna at Code Name: Mama has brainstormed several ways Google can join the celebration:
(INCLUDE A FEW OF THE IDEAS BELOW, AND/OR ADD YOUR OWN IDEAS!)
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in over 176 countries around the world, and this year marks the 20th anniversary. We would love to have Google be a vital part of this milestone.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
3. Why should they get free advertising? Giving preference to one cause or another is never a good idea and puts Google onto shaky ground. The smart idea is to keep a blanket policy against all favoritism. If you don't give anyone special treatment, no one can complain.
4. Gmail's sponsored links are determined by what's in your Gmail. Again, they'd have to change their algorithms and their policy to work with that. Not to mention, that again it's pushing an agenda. There are formula feeding mothers out there, and they deserve just as much respect for their choices (if you're not being hypocritical about it).
7. Again, pushing an agenda. Google has a policy about who can/not advertise with them. It probably has more to do with legal issues/inflammatory language than myriad personal preferences.
Google is a company. They're not a politician looking for your support, and they have no reason to take up your causes. These suggestions are highly subjective and completely unrealistic.
Great minds think alike.
Don't think Google should alter its current algorithms to promote breastfeeding, though. That's not what they do. The simple Doodle is quite sufficient and within their business model.
Feminism: The advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. (Google)
Does this mean that you need to personally approve of every thing that women do? Nope. You're entitled to your personal opinions, even as you work to advance the political, social, and economic climate for women. Personally, I don't like it when women breastfeed in public. I recognize their right to do so, but I also view it as a private, intimate act. Then again, I also don't like it when people stick their tongues in each others' throats in public either.
It boils down to the idea of public life vs. private life. IMO, people are far too open about private things in public. Breastfeeding is (from what I've read) supposed to be about the bond between woman and child, and I would agree with this notion. But then they turn around and say they should do it everywhere all the time. While I understand that children need to feed (and I disapprove of the commenter who was derogatory towards "artificial feeding" for being supremely hypocritical) I also think that a woman should bond with her child in private. Not necessarily locked in a closet, but maybe not in the center of the room, using her child to make a sociopolitical statement.
Also, I'm sure that "nursing pair" refers to the mother and the child.