The History of LLL Philosophy
Fiona Reynoldson
London England
Eileen Harrison
Rennes France
Monique Kitts
Ringgold GA USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 39 No. 5, October-November 2003, pp. 102-3.
Every mother
has a personal philosophy-an approach to life, a collection of her most
basic beliefs. This foundation informs and supports her choices and
is constantly refined (strengthened or adapted) according to her experience.
When a mother's personal philosophy correlates well with LLL philosophy,
she may be interested in representing LLL through leadership. As mothers,
we find the 10 concepts an integral part of our lives. As Leaders we
present and represent them at Series Meetings, in one-to-one helping,
and as part of preapplication dialogue. Leaders make LLL philosophy
available to support a mother's breastfeeding and parenting choices
in a practical and workable way. While each Leader lives out LLL philosophy
in her own unique way, that philosophy has unified women around the
world for nearly 50 years! Have you ever wondered where this philosophy
came from?
From the early
days of La Leche League, the Founders offered more than breastfeeding
information and support. Their belief that babies need close and frequent
contact with their mothers supported the breastfeeding information they
presented. This philosophy contradicted the perceived wisdom of the
era, which was that babies needed to be left alone to develop independence
and that parents should avoid "spoiling" them by allowing
them to "cry it out."
In the early years, LLL philosophy was undefined and mainly transmitted
verbally. In 1958, the Founders, Dr. Gregory White, and Dr. Herbert
Ratner had a discussion about the purpose of the organization. During
the conversation, the Founders came to realize that their approach to
breastfeeding was a part of something much larger and far-reaching.
And so, the purpose of LLL became to "Help mothers successfully
breastfeed their babies, and so successfully mother them" (Cahill
2001).
During those
early years, many women requested and received permission to start Groups
in their own areas. "We'd hear from these women from far away who
said they wanted to join us, and we'd write back and say, 'Fine. Set
up your own organization because we're not going to have a big organizational
structure,'" shares Betty Wagner in The Love Story. During that
time, LLL was growing and spreading rapidly. Gradually, however, it
began to filter back to the Founders that the purpose and (still undefined)
philosophy were not being presented consistently everywhere. New Group
Chairmen were appointed to administer Leader applications in the late
1960s in an attempt to minimize discrepancies in philosophy. In practice,
it was felt that New Group Chairmen used individual interpretations
of LLL philosophy to determine who could be a Leader; a woman accredited
in one state might not have been accredited in another.
This imprecise
sharing of LLL philosophy caused a good deal of concern among the Founders
and the LLLI Committee, which served as a liaison between the local
areas and the LLLI Executive Board (a forerunner of the Board of Directors).
Mary Ann Byntar, Rita Gorski, and Rosann Miller, members of the LLLI
Committee, requested permission from the Executive Board to "clarify
and define LLL philosophy." In 1972, the trio began developing
the "Guidelines to League Philosophy" (Lowman 1978).
Mary Ann, Rita,
and Rosann met frequently over the course of the next several months.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding was the "official source of La
Leche League policy and philosophy" (Lowman 1978) and they analyzed
all the philosophy they found in it. Gradually, they whittled it down
to eight categories. The Executive Board was then presented with a paragraph
describing each of them and, in September 1972, the eight concepts,
as they became known, were formally adopted. A year later a ninth, relating
to the baby's need for his mother, was added. Two years later a 10th
concept on discipline was also adopted.
Further refinements
have been made over the years because of experiences in applying the
concepts as guidelines for Leader accreditation. In 1975, the concepts
about starting solids and loving guidance were revised, with the latter
being revised again in 1981. Mary Gisch, LAD Director at the time, wrote
the following when the change to the loving guidance concept was announced:
"An understanding of the stages of normal development forms the
basis for the new wording of this concept...The previous wording of
this concept included the word 'discipline' and it seemed to many of
us that using that word gave the wrong emphasis to the concept. In order
to lovingly guide our children's behavior, we must understand why children
behave as they do and what to expect from them at various stages of
their development" (Gisch 1981). The concept relating to the baby's
need for his mother's presence was revised in 1979. Betty Ann Countryman
and Jody Nathanson, who were members of the Board of Directors at the
time, said, "Simply stated yet complete, this concept speaks to
the need of the baby. More clearly than before, the Board believes that
this wording puts the League's emphasis where it was always meant to
be...It has always recognized the unique and essential character of
the baby's need for his mother. And now-unequivocally stated-we reaffirm
this enduring belief." (LEAVEN 1979). The wording of the fathering
concept was altered in 1985 to better describe the father's unique role
as distinct from the mother's role. These refinements have given us
the La Leche League philosophy we have today.
Since these
statements of philosophy come from THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING,
which also contains many mothers' experiences, they are relevant and
practical in a variety of cultures and societies. They define where
LLL stands on aspects of breastfeeding and mothering as well as form
a significant and integral part of LLL's essence along with LLL's purpose
and mission statement. LLL philosophy provides a framework within which
Leaders give information and support in group and one-to-one situations.
This framework is part of what makes our organization unique. With LLL
philosophy described in clear, positive, and practical terms, Leaders
have workable concepts to support their breastfeeding and mothering
choices.
References
"Announcing
New Third Concept." LEAVEN 1979 Nov-Dec; 15(6):41-42.
Cahill, M.A. SEVEN VOICES, ONE DREAM. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League
International, 2001; 55.
Gisch, M. "Loving Guidance Revisited." LEAVEN 1981 Jul-Aug;
17(4):44.
Lowman, K. THE LLLOVE STORY. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League International,
1978; 62.
Fiona Reynoldson
has been a Leader for 16 years and is CLA for Future Areas in Asia.
She lives in London, England with her, husband, Tony. They have four
adult children and three granddaughters. Eileen Harrison is Regional
Administrator of Leader Accreditation for "Europe 1" and "Europe
2," and a member of the LAD Council. She leads a Toddler Group
and the Ille-et-Villaine Chapter's monthly Applicant meetings in Rennes,
France. Eileen and her husband, Richard, have four adult sons and two
granddaughters who are 5 and 2. Monique Kitts has been a Leader for
eight years. She lives in Ringgold, Georgia, USA, with her husband,
Aaron, and three children. Monique is also Regional Administrator of
Leader Accreditation for the Southern Region, EUS.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:53 UTC 2007.
