Melisa Keimig reached out to me this morning to let me know that a reporter named Marty Bass on WJZ, the CBS affiliate in Baltimore, remarked on the air this morning that “buying women jewelry” was the answer for women suffering from postpartum depression. Keimig sent the following message to the station with a copy to the local newspaper:
"As a young mother who has suffered from the devastating effects of a postpartum illness, I am outraged that he would make such a comment on the air that is absolutely belittling and degrading to all those who have suffered traumatically and their families from this type of illness. Mr. Bass should be ashamed of himself for making such a comment that would offend any woman who had gone through this ordeal. I believe he should apologize for this comment and for all those he has offended with his insensitive remarks. Maybe he should do a little research and read some stories of young women who killed themselves or their children because of their suffering from this very serious illness. Maybe then he would think twice before making his "comments" about something he obviously knows very little about.”
Bravo Melisa! Mr. Bass’ response was as follows:
I did not say it is the answer to PPD. I said after birth, as a guy, you best help the healing process begin, and after watching your wife work her hardest for 9 months you better have something more in your hand than a handshake.
A big difference between what happened, and was said, and what you believe you heard. But it happens, no offense taken.
He goes on to say he understands the reality of PPD. I would love to get my hands on a tape of the story to see whether he was simply saying men should give their wives gifts, or that men should give women with PPD jewelry so they’ll get over it. Since I haven’t seen it myself, I can’t say for sure he was denigrating women with PPD. Either way, Melisa sent him the perfect response:
Mr. Bass: You would have to understand how this could be misunderstood by women sufferers. There was a story about postpartum depression being told, and Brooke Shields. You in turn said three words, buy her jewelry. In any case whether you meant it or not in that context, it was poor taste to say when discussing a very serious topic such as postpartum depression.
