Should we pay women to breastfeed?

The latest skirmish in the Mommy Wars is unfolding in the U.K.

Breastfeeding
(Image credit: (Thinkstock))

If you needed any proof that the Mommy Wars aren't restricted to the United States, a new controversy over breastfeeding on the other side of the pond shows how polarizing every aspect of motherhood has become.

The British government, in conjunction with Sheffield University, has launched a pilot program to pay women to breastfeed. Mothers will receive £120 in coupons (a little over $190) if they breastfeed for the first six weeks of their children's lives, and another £80 (about $130) if they continue until their babies are six months old.

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Emily Shire is chief researcher for The Week magazine. She has written about pop culture, religion, and women and gender issues at publications including Slate, The Forward, and Jewcy.