Mayim Bialik : Don't fall for that similac commercial

[gibbinator]

www.kveller.com/mayim-bialik-dont-fall-for-that-similac-commercial/

BREASTFEEDING
Mayim Bialik: Don’t Fall For That Similac Commercial
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MAYIM BIALIKFeb 2, 2015 9:02AM
Get ready to get mad at me.

You know that Similac Formula commercial everyone is raving about? The one that I got in my inbox as, “OMG this commercial will make you cry?” The one showing we are all in a mommy war about who’s a better mom and if we all just band together and stop judging, we can literally save lives as well as our fragile social structure?

Here it is so you can see what I’m talking about.

Random factoid: I was at that park with my kids the day this commercial was filmed. True story. They shut down a huge section where we normally play and I was annoyed. Little did I know how much more annoyed I would be when the ad came out!

Disclaimer: I am a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor who agrees with the World Health Organization and every other global health organization about breastfeeding: it is the normal way to feed humans and it’s something women should be supported in, taught how to manage, and accommodated to achieve. That being said, I also believe that artificial baby milk (how many lactation instructors refer to it) is sometimes necessary. I am grateful it exists. I was trained to know when and how to use formula.

I know not everyone breastfeeds, and I know some people don’t want to and don’t like when people say breast is best. I know all of that and I know that many people struggled to breastfeed and were heartbroken they could not do it. My heart goes out to those people, and I hope this doesn’t make everyone think I believe you are only a good mom if you breastfeed. I don’t want to open that wound up, I promise.

Here is why this ad makes me mad.

1. The ad perpetuates stereotypes and then claims to knock them down. But mostly it reinforces a war against people Western culture deems it appropriate to knock down: people not doing what “everyone” is doing. In this way, breastfeeding moms and cloth diapering moms are the enemies of a war, which the ad claims to end.

2. The ad shows breastfeeding as “just another choice,” ignoring that it is the medically recommended way to feed human babies. It’s not the same as cloth versus disposable diaper choices or deciding which baby shampoo to use. This commercial undermines medical and scientific fact under the guise of “It’s all the same, don’t judge. And if you do, you are the bad mom.”

3. The ad reinforces negative stereotypes of breastfeeding moms, but doesn’t do the same for formula moms. A new mom is shown fumbling about as if breastfeeding is so hard, and all of the breastfeeding moms are covered up by those “tents”…that’s the picture we are shown of what breastfeeding even is. How many moms actually use those tents? I wonder what little girls–or boys–who see this ad would think about breastfeeding. I suppose the sponsor of this doesn’t care what people think of breastfeeding, because they are out to sell a product, which leads to how…

4. This ad exemplifies unethical marketing. An excellent piece I read about this ad by Maria Andrusiak Morland defined unethical marketing as this: “the outward product or message of an ad does not match the underlying rhetorical and persuasive techniques, analogies and metaphors that construct the presentation choices in the advertisement.”

Bingo. This is not an altruistic company out to end the mommy wars, which would be a lovely thing to do. They are out there to sell formula and the very act of selling formula undermines breastfeeding.

Do we need formula available in hospitals and for doctors to use? Of course. But this company is not interested in ending mommy wars or making the world better. There are interested in selling their product.

Do you buy it?

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POSTED IN: BREASTFEEDING COMMERCIAL FORMULA LACTATION LACTATION COUNSELOR MAYIM BIALIK MOMMY WARS SIMILAC
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Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik is the grandchild of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the mother of two young boys. She is best known for her lead role in the 1990s NBC sitcom Blossom, as well as her current role as Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

[gibbinator]

Since the commercial was circulating here few days ago I thought I'd copy this article over.

I was also annoyed about the breastfeeding mom's all being under the covers, of course, I can see from a film making standpoint how that might make it easier to indicate they're nursing without actually trying to make it look like fake baby dolls are nursing...

But generally I still like the commercial. And duh, of course they're trying to sell their product and make their company look good.

[zarapipe]

This is what happens when you read too much into things.

Ditto about the covers. How else would you cover up fake babies?

[ECB]

Feb 4, 2015 8:02:17 GMT -5 swizz said:

I was somewhat with her until she said the very act of selling formula undermines breastfeeding and that it should essentially only be available to doctors and medical professionals.

No thanks.

I was a little squicky at the end of the commercial to find it was some my Similac.

Yeah- a lot of her statement, I don't have issue with.  But .... it's a COMMERCIAL and they are trying to SELL their product.  Why is this a shock to her?  And how does it really undermine BFing?  Simply by saying "Hey public, you can buy this if you dont' want to BF!"?

I fully understand the benefits to BFing.  I don't have issue with that. BUT that doesn't mean that BFing is for everyone.  Doesn't matter the reason - it's not for everyone.  And in the end, it still boils down to "are you feeding your child?  Yes?  Good - KOKO.". 

[changedname]

Feb 4, 2015 8:06:27 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

This is what happens when you read too much into things.

Ditto about the covers. How else would you cover up fake babies?

That is what I was thinking. The commercial was cute and funny. Even my h got a kick out of it. Yes, it does skew things a bit that it is from similac but after the Nationwide debacle, I find it hard to get annoyed with this one.

Also Mayim annoys me so there's that.

[rugbywife]

So my gut reaction to all of this was: why does anyone need to defend anything, feed your kid however you effing please and KOKO.

Then I remembered that the formula industry brings with it millions of dollars in advertising power, whereas that doesn't exist for breastfeeding. So I get why people write about it, comment about it, etc...

[jeaniebueller]

The ad shows breastfeeding as “just another choice,” ignoring that it is the medically recommended way to feed human babies.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/416779/mayim-bialik-fall-similac-commercial#ixzz3QmZrIG2U

Oh, wait, you mean medically recommended like, I don't know, VACCINES??? I think she is a sanctimonious asshole.

[ilikedonuts]

But she doesn't vaccinate. I don't listen to anything that comes out of her mouth. She's all about how you MUST BF but it's cool if her kids get diseases that could kill them rather then vaccinate. Go the fuck away, Blossom.

[ssmjlm]

She's BSC.

Someone take away her mic.

[nachos]

I thought the commercial was cute enough - but it's still a commercial. Does Bialik actually think people are going to suddenly decide to stop BFing and switch to similac?

I'm pro-feeding.

The how is up to the family, not me.

[shortstax]

Umm, not everyone is heartbroken or struggles to breastfeed. Some choose to use formula. Or, how about those gay dads in the commercial?

I guess I don't see the need to "respond" to a commercial. If anything, doesn't this give it more press? Babies are getting fed, and doing well. Sounds like a win/win to me.

[kershnic]

Wait, for real someone who doesn't vaccinate is preaching about the importance of listening to medical recommendations on the best way to feed a kid? Um, nope.

[gibbinator]

Feb 4, 2015 8:27:33 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

The ad shows breastfeeding as “just another choice,” ignoring that it is the medically recommended way to feed human babies.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/416779/mayim-bialik-fall-similac-commercial#ixzz3QmZrIG2U

Oh, wait, you mean medically recommended like, I don't know, VACCINES??? I think she is a sanctimonious asshole.

Lol, I didn't know she's an anti vaxxer . What a hypocrite.

[cincodemayo]

Dumb. So dumb.

[h]

I think her complaints about the commercial itself are generally unfounded. They do not just stereotype breastfeeding moms. I mean, the working moms are all gruff-sounding women in black power suits. Everyone is stereotyped (as that is the point), and the nursing covers are essentially costuming done to distinguish between groups. I also do not think breastfeeding or cloth diapering moms are shown as the only "enemies in a war"--every group portrayed is shown at "war."

That said, I do agree with her on some level that breastfeeding is different from many other choices because of the medical benefits and recommendations. We should be able to say "breast is best" without causing a mommy war. Breastfeeding should be viewed as normal and the default option, with formula (can we just call it that? Artificial baby milk, seriously?) treated as a totally acceptable alternative for those who can't or don't want to breastfeed.

[mlt]

I can't stand that B. And no to everything she said above.

[mdana]

Feb 4, 2015 8:27:33 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

The ad shows breastfeeding as “just another choice,” ignoring that it is the medically recommended way to feed human babies.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/416779/mayim-bialik-fall-similac-commercial#ixzz3QmZrIG2U

Oh, wait, you mean medically recommended like, I don't know, VACCINES??? I think she is a sanctimonious asshole.

So much this. So much.

[Deleted]

Similac 4 lyfe!

[jeaniebueller]

I think she is so insulated in her little privileged bubble that she doesn't understand that the fact that many of us have a choice of how we feed our babies and have the ability to feed our babies in either way, that we are extremely lucky compared to other parts of the world. I wish so badly that groups would quit holding her up as being a "woman in science" when she is so polarizing and uninformed.

[bowies]

I use a cover.

(wilted)

[hermione]

I have several issues with what she said - like how she glosses over that some women simply don't want to breastfeed even if they are educated about it. Those women shouldn't have to endure a lecture from a doctor in order to get formula.

Artificial baby milk? Fuck her. Seriously, I don't care how many "Certified Lactation Educator Counselors" call formula that. She knows it's inflammatory and that's why she used it.

And LOL foreverrrrrrrrrrr at an anti-vaxxer invoking medical science as a reason to do anything.

And no, I can't just get on board with Breast is Best. That is only true when all things are equal - which they never are with babies. I'm happy to jump on the notion from the recent FFF article - Bottle or Breast, Fed is Best.

[Deleted]

You're braver than I am, gibbinator. I read that a few days ago, but no way on earth was I going to post it here.

[badtzmaru22]

I thought the commercial was cute, but I did think it was slightly "meaner" toward the BFing moms. ::shrugs::

Blossom is nutty.

The end.

[shortstax]

Feb 4, 2015 8:49:16 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I think she is so insulated in her little privileged bubble that she doesn't understand that the fact that many of us have a choice of how we feed our babies and have the ability to feed our babies in either way, that we are extremely lucky compared to other parts of the world. I wish so badly that groups would quit holding her up as being a "woman in science" when she is so polarizing and uninformed.

AGREED.

[gibbinator]

Feb 4, 2015 9:02:42 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

You're braver than I am, gibbinator. I read that a few days ago, but no way on earth was I going to post it here.

Lol, I love finding articles that make everyone angry. This is the first place I think of when they show up on Facebook

[chickens987]

Feb 4, 2015 9:00:05 GMT -5 hermione said:

I have several issues with what she said - like how she glosses over that some women simply don't want to breastfeed even if they are educated about it. Those women shouldn't have to endure a lecture from a doctor in order to get formula.

Artificial baby milk? Fuck her. Seriously, I don't care how many "Certified Lactation Educator Counselors" call formula that. She knows it's inflammatory and that's why she used it.

And LOL foreverrrrrrrrrrr at an anti-vaxxer invoking medical science as a reason to do anything.

And no, I can't just get on board with Breast is Best. That is only true when all things are equal - which they never are with babies. I'm happy to jump on the notion from the recent FFF article - Bottle or Breast, Fed is Best.

Not to mention the fact that medical professionals are not necessarily well-educated on breastfeeding or formula feeding. Many of us here have had doctors/nurses push formula on us unnecessarily or possibly gloss over signs that supplementing may be necessary.

[sweetday]

Feb 4, 2015 7:58:02 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

Disclaimer: I am a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor who agrees with the World Health Organization and every other global health organization about breastfeeding: it is the normal way to feed humans and it’s something women should be supported in, taught how to manage, and accommodated to achieve. That being said, I also believe that artificial baby milk (how many lactation instructors refer to it) is sometimes necessary. I am grateful it exists. I was trained to know when and how to use formula.

Fuck her... 

Similac for lyfe here too!

[Deleted]

Feb 4, 2015 9:08:47 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

I kinda hated the commercial - thought it perpetuated sterotypes and conflict rather than knocking them down through parody.

But I also think Mayim is a nutjob.

So not really sure what to think.

That's where I land. I don't disagree with much of what she says, but I don't respect her at all. It leaves me conflicted.

LOLZ all day that "formula" is fine and "artificial baby milk" is offensive, though. "Formula", as in "the recipe we make up something to feed babies" isn't a word with a warm fuzzy past.

[badtzmaru22]

Feb 4, 2015 9:11:16 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Feb 4, 2015 9:08:47 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

I kinda hated the commercial - thought it perpetuated sterotypes and conflict rather than knocking them down through parody.

But I also think Mayim is a nutjob.

So not really sure what to think.

That's where I land. I don't disagree with much of what she says, but I don't respect her at all. It leaves me conflicted.

LOLZ all day that "formula" is fine and "artificial baby milk" is offensive, though. "Formula", as in "the recipe we make up something to feed babies" isn't a word with a warm fuzzy past.

I think I've said the word formula too many times now. It's starting to sound weird. But along these lines, it is a weird word... It's like calling other food just "recipe". I think the "artificial" label is inflammatory, but maybe just "baby milk" sounds nice.

[hermione]

Feb 4, 2015 9:11:16 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Feb 4, 2015 9:08:47 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

LOLZ all day that "formula" is fine and "artificial baby milk" is offensive, though. "Formula", as in "the recipe we make up something to feed babies" isn't a word with a warm fuzzy past.

Meh. Meanings of words change and "formula" is is commonly accepted now. I have zero doubt that "Artificial baby milk" was meant to be inflammatory.