Equity can be viewed as three interwoven components: a lens, a mirror, and an outcome.

• It is a lens through which we view the world to inform and guide the design of our strategies and activities to build a "landscape of breastfeeding support."
• It is also a mirror through which we view ourselves and our organizations, examining our internal structures, culture, and policies and their impact on how the lens is applied and the outcome achieved.
• Lastly it is the outcome we seek to achieve, i.e., equity is realized when life outcomes are equal, in a statistical sense, regardless of one's identities.

Equity work can take the form of actions designed to address historic burdens as well as to remove present day barriers to equal opportunities. It can be accomplished by identifying and eliminating systemic discriminatory policies and practices, but also by transforming structures towards access, justice, self-determination, redistribution, and sharing of power and resources. Above all, it requires an inclusive approach that maximizes engagement of the communities impacted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a report titled "Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among U.S. Infants Born in 2015." Published as part of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the report concludes that among infants who had initiated breastfeeding, differences between black infants and white infants in any and exclusive breastfeeding at ages 3 and 6 months were smaller but still present. The authors add that increasing rates of breastfeeding initiation and supporting continuation of breastfeeding among black women might help reduce disparities in breastfeeding duration. Strategies might include improving peer and family support, access to evidence-based maternity care, and employment support.

The following resources are provided courtesy of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

LGBTQ EQUITY

Books:

Where’s the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad, by Trevor McDonald
Breastfeeding without Birthing, by Alyssa Schnell

Articles:

Lactation Support and the LGBTQI Community, by Alice Farrow
Transgender parents and chest/breastfeeding, by Trevor McDonald

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Transgender Breastfeeding, by Diana West

Two Women and a Baby: LGBTQ and Breastfeeding, By Tipper Gallagher

10 Tips For Caring For LGBTQ Patients, by Anne Devine

Podcasts:

Breastfeeding Outside the Box – Alyssa Schnell

Resource lists:

LGTBQIA Resources, by Diana West

GEOGRAPHICAL EQUITY 

Breastfeeding Support: A Geographic Perspective on Access and Equity.

RACIAL EQUTY

Intersection of Breastfeeding & Racial Equity:

• Breastfeeding in Color: The Journey to Deep & Radical Community Support
• Breastfeeding Moms’ Voices Across America: A Conversation (webinar, log in required)
• Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar Series (equity-focused breastfeeding education)
• Narrowing the Great Divide: Reducing Barriers to Entry for POC in the Field of Lactation
• “Progress in increasing breastfeeding and reducing racial/ethnic differences – United States, 2000-2008 Births”
• Racial Equity Learning Community, U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) – webinars, reading list, blog posts, etc.
• “Removing Barriers to Breastfeeding: A Structural Race Analysis for First Food”, by the Center for Social Inclusion
• “Speak Up”, Comments from KBC 2018 Breastfeeding Conference presentation by Shannon McKenney Shubert
• “SPEAK UP for Black Women”, Debra Bingham, DrPH, RN, FAAN
• “Using Your Power & Privilege” – Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar

Black Communities:

• Black Breastfeeding after a History of Trauma
• Black Breastfeeding: Making HERstory (photo album)
• Chocolate Milk Documentary
• Is Slavery Why Black Women Aren’t Breastfeeding?, by Kimberly Seals Allers
• “Logic Model for the Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding for Black Families”, by Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
• “Q & A with Sherry Payne: An Innovator In Lactation Equity” – comment section very important
• “Top Five Reasons We Need A Black Breastfeeding Week”, by Kimberly Seals Allers

Black Breastfeeding Organizations:

• Black Mamas Matter Alliance
• Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
• Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support (BSTARS)  (log in required)
• Mo/Kan Black Breastfeeding Coalition
• National Association of Peer & Professional Lactation Supporter of Color
• Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)

Hispanic Communities:

• Barriers to Breastfeeding for Hispanic Mothers
• “Breastfeeding in Latinx Communities: Innovative Partnerships Through Authentic Community Engagement” Slides from USBC conference, must be logged into USBC site to view
• “The State of Hispanic Health and Implications for the Future” and “Approaches to Hispanic Health Research”webinars
• “Reclaiming Latino/Hispanic birth and breastfeeding traditions” blog

Hispanic Breastfeeding Organizations:

• Latino Best Start
• Binational Breastfeeding Coalition
• Latina Breastfeeding Coalition
• Latina Breastfeeding Leaders

Breastfeeding Resources for Hispanic Families

Native American Communities:

• “Native American Women DO Breastfeed”, by Camie Jae Goldhammer
• “Generational trauma among Native American cultures affects infant feeding”, Our Milky Way blog post
• Historic Trauma is Affecting Tomorrow’s Children
• Building a Breastfeeding Support Program within the Ho-Chunk Nation Community, USBC webinar

Native American Breastfeeding Organizations:

• Potawatomi Tribe Breastfeeding Coalition
• Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington
• Native Breastfeeding Coalition of Wisconsin
• Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
• Oregon Inter-Tribal Breastfeeding Coalition
• Native Mothering
• Ho-Chunk Nation Breastfeeding Coalition
• Navajo Nation Breastfeeding Coalition

Breastfeeding Resources for Native American Families