Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Oct 11, 2010 at 10:30am
The European Union Court of Justice in Luxembourg recently ruled that Spanish fathers are allowed to leave work for an hour during the day or reduce their working day by half an hour to breast-feed their infants, even if the mother of the child is not employed.
A few thoughts here:
- Spain's GDP contracted by 3.6% (2009 est.), its unemployment rate is over 20%, and its productivity has been essentially stagnant at an annual growth rate of 0.2% since 1994 (compare to growth rates of 1.8% and 1.4% in the productivity of American and German workers, respectively, over the same time span). Surely, silly measures like sending men home to breast-feed their babies is not going to help the situation any.
- The EU Court of justice in Luxembourg? What do some judges in Luxembourg know about what's right for Spain's situation? Let this be a lesson for us American spectators: abdicating domestic matters to foreign judiciaries is a recipe for disaster.
- Since when have men been able to breast-feed?
(h/t Kenneth)
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Thank God that sort of insanity could never happen here.
By the way, under Obamacare, am I entitled to an annual mammogram?
Jul '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
"The European Union Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled on Thursday that the Spanish law caused an "unjustified discrimination on grounds of sex" because fathers do not have the same rights as mothers."
In related news the court ruled that Swiss farmers must offer as much Alpine pasturage to dolphins as they do goats.
May '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
They breast-feed in the same way as their newborn. Finding something you can share and enjoy with your child is important. And the sooner the better. It makes us better fathers.
(And, no, I will not be supplying a PhotoShop illustration on this topic...)
Edited on Oct 11, 2010 at 11:15amJul '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Since the Spaniards barely breed, this nonsense is just another empty EU posturing.
And no, Kenneth, under Obamacare you will not be entitled to an annual mammogram. Nothing to do with you being a chap, you understand; studies will show that annual mammograms are not cost-effective for anyone.
May '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Well, there is one bit of value: that's some funny stuff.
It will be even more hilarious when, as a matter of equality, they offer the same to people who don't even have children. Wouldn't want to discriminate, you know.
Aug '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Hang on a mo'... Spain still has mothers and fathers? I thought they had already switched to "Progenitor A" and "Progenitor B".
May '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Stan: I want to have babies.
Reg: You want to have babies?!?!
Stan: It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them.
Reg: But ... you can't HAVE babies!
Stan: Don't you oppress me!
Reg: I'm not oppressing you, Stan. You haven't got a womb! Where's the fetus gonna gestate? You gonna keep it in a box?
(Monty Python's Life of Brian)
May '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Matthew Bartle:
Stan: Don't you oppress me!
You haters. This whole thread reeks of Lactate Intolerance!
Sep '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
It's like I woke up in crazy world.
What woud De Tocqueville have to say about male breast feeding. I think they have re-defined minute rules in a way previously unsurpassed.
From Chapter 6
It (the government) covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.
Aug '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
EU Parlimentarians get paid in total compensation something north of a million bucks a year to hang around and obfuscate through an unfinished 700 page constitution. At this rate, their job security is about five generations out.
Imagine what the Luxembourgian judges make ? I mean, what's it worth to ponder these questions ? I dreamed I was wearing a Maidenform jockstrap !
Torquemama, baby please don't go !
Aug '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
That's "progenitor AHH" and "progenitor BAY", culebrita.
Sep '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
Oh you Neanderthals who have bought into cheap social constructs such as the belief in physical differences between men and women! Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Union, will disprove you all by personally giving birth to the next leader of the EU! He will be even more beloved than his father.
Jul '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
[shakes head slowly...groans]
I assume that the judges are applying the law as written. If that is what the law says, then the law is an ass!
May '10
Re: Do Spanish Fathers Breast-Feed?
>>The EU Court of justice in Luxembourg? What do some judges in Luxembourg know about what's right for Spain's situation? Let this be a lesson for us American spectators: abdicating domestic matters to foreign judiciaries is a recipe for disaster.<<
I agree, but remember, the central EU conceit is that this is no different to a Washington-based supreme court ruling on issues pertaining to Alaska. One of those frustrating mashed-up meanings is the way "Federalist" in British EU-speak actually means an EU-centralist, rather than someone who believes in proper division of powers between states and federation (a bit like the use of "Liberal" for "Leftist"). I'd be prepared to be an EU-federalist at a pinch if that were really on offer. Instead, there is a constant over-reach, trying to impose a type of centralised federal government that the USA has not succeeded with after a couple of centuries of practice. (and I do understand that the proper conservative position is that this is a good thing, since heavily centralised federal government is a very bad idea).
It will end in crying.
Edited on Oct 12, 2010 at 3:39am