Political Activism

Can one person make a difference? Does one more phone call to a state senator tip the scales in favor of a piece of legislation? When I received an email message urging me to call my California state legislators to support a breastfeeding bill, I contemplated those questions.

Political activism is important to me. Breastfeeding is important to me. So I took a few minutes to read the bill, SB 257, which would require state entities to inform pregnant employees about the existing California law that requires workplace lactation accommodation. After all, what use is the protection if women are unaware of their rights? Then, I (overcame my irksome phone phobia and) called the numbers for two state senators. All it took was 30 seconds per call to leave the following simple message:

As a member of the Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, I urge you to support SB 257 (Pavley-Employee Notification/Lactation Accommodation) which will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, April 27.

I got the good news today that the bill passed in the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday! So, did my one voice make a difference? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is it felt great to stand up for something I believe in. Better to take five minutes (even if my preschooler *destroyed* her clothing by making a mud puddle with the hose while I was on the phone) and feel great, than to remain silent and risk that the bill might not receive enough support.