More ranting on breastfeeding
I just tried to post a comment to this news story but got some bizarre form error. Well darnit I spent all that rage and I want SOMEONE to read it, so here it is:
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Wow. I'm ashamed and stunned at the ignorance of people who think that this woman went into the store with the intention of breastfeeding so that she could sue for financial compensation, that she has "too much time on her hands", and that breastfeeding should be kept private and behind closed doors.
If you want to make a point to any business, you have to hit them where it hurts - financially. Disrupt their business with protests, boycotts, and yes, legal action. Do you really think she'd make a ton of cash off pursuing compensation - do you think the sum she'd be awarded divided by the number of hours she spent pursuing the case would even work out to minimum wage? Please, get real - this is not the US. The intent would be to drag the retailer through the mud to discourage them and other businesses from this kind of discriminatory behaviour.
"Too much time on her hands"? Have you ever cared for a 2-month-old? Didn't think so.
And the most ridiculous of all - that breastfeeding should be kept "private". Public health organizations from the municipal level on up to WHO are recommending that we breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and then continue to breastfeed well into the toddler and even preschool years. Do you have any idea how often a baby needs to be fed? It's generally around 6-12 times a day, and you can't exactly force-feed them when they aren't hungry just so that they conveniently fit adult schedules. This means that any time you leave the house, you just might have to feed the baby in public.
So I guess according to you folks mothers are supposed to stay housebound for months or YEARS and feed their small children only in the privacy of their own bedrooms just to avoid offending the delicate sensibilities of some supposed "adults" who can't see a baby being fed without freaking out because "OH NO! BOOBS!!"
A mother needs to buy clothes, groceries? Sorry, lady! You're confined to the house, lest you offend some ignoramus by feeding your child when he's hungry.
Please, people. Grow up. Breastfeeding is about feeding babies, not sex. If you're sexualizing the feeding of infants, you need to get your mind out of the gutter, because you're a very, very sick puppy.
I will feed my baby wherever I darned well please, and if some person or organization tries to or shame me for it or stop me from doing what is best for my child you're darned right I will take every avenue available to correct their misguided behaviour.
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I have to say that in my past 7 months (holy shit, it's been that long) of public breastfeeding in Vancouver restaurants, parks, cafes, festivals, shopping centres, etc etc I have NEVER had so much as a funny look for nursing my baby and I would be utterly aghast if anyone confronted me about it. Generally, this is a pretty good city in which to be a mom: I have never felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in public here. I'm pretty stunned that something like this could happen here, and I firmly believe that it needs to be stamped out so no other businesses get the idea that they can pull this kind of nonsense.
Why do I get so up in arms about this stuff? Culturally, we almost *lost* breastfeeding. Did you know that? Seriously. Our ridiculously puritanical, consumerist, materialist culture almost lost a significant part of our humanity, and that's why I and many others will defend it with everything we've got.
Before anyone (and I'm looking at you lazarus7) pipes up with how a store is private property and they can make whatever rules they want and don't have to let women breastfeed on their premises: Actually, no, sorry, you're wrong. In BC you cannot deny a woman service or make her cover up for breastfeeding, even in a store. Please see http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/human-rights-protection/pdfs/SexDiscrimination&Harassment.pdf - this pamphlet specifies that it applies to stores and restaurants, and also specifically mentions breastfeeding. The formal statement can be found here: http://www.infactcanada.ca/br_bc_humanrights.htm It's pretty clear about this.
I'm looking forward to my first-ever protest nurse-in on Thursday afternoon. Should be fun :-D
--
Wow. I'm ashamed and stunned at the ignorance of people who think that this woman went into the store with the intention of breastfeeding so that she could sue for financial compensation, that she has "too much time on her hands", and that breastfeeding should be kept private and behind closed doors.
If you want to make a point to any business, you have to hit them where it hurts - financially. Disrupt their business with protests, boycotts, and yes, legal action. Do you really think she'd make a ton of cash off pursuing compensation - do you think the sum she'd be awarded divided by the number of hours she spent pursuing the case would even work out to minimum wage? Please, get real - this is not the US. The intent would be to drag the retailer through the mud to discourage them and other businesses from this kind of discriminatory behaviour.
"Too much time on her hands"? Have you ever cared for a 2-month-old? Didn't think so.
And the most ridiculous of all - that breastfeeding should be kept "private". Public health organizations from the municipal level on up to WHO are recommending that we breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and then continue to breastfeed well into the toddler and even preschool years. Do you have any idea how often a baby needs to be fed? It's generally around 6-12 times a day, and you can't exactly force-feed them when they aren't hungry just so that they conveniently fit adult schedules. This means that any time you leave the house, you just might have to feed the baby in public.
So I guess according to you folks mothers are supposed to stay housebound for months or YEARS and feed their small children only in the privacy of their own bedrooms just to avoid offending the delicate sensibilities of some supposed "adults" who can't see a baby being fed without freaking out because "OH NO! BOOBS!!"
A mother needs to buy clothes, groceries? Sorry, lady! You're confined to the house, lest you offend some ignoramus by feeding your child when he's hungry.
Please, people. Grow up. Breastfeeding is about feeding babies, not sex. If you're sexualizing the feeding of infants, you need to get your mind out of the gutter, because you're a very, very sick puppy.
I will feed my baby wherever I darned well please, and if some person or organization tries to or shame me for it or stop me from doing what is best for my child you're darned right I will take every avenue available to correct their misguided behaviour.
--
I have to say that in my past 7 months (holy shit, it's been that long) of public breastfeeding in Vancouver restaurants, parks, cafes, festivals, shopping centres, etc etc I have NEVER had so much as a funny look for nursing my baby and I would be utterly aghast if anyone confronted me about it. Generally, this is a pretty good city in which to be a mom: I have never felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in public here. I'm pretty stunned that something like this could happen here, and I firmly believe that it needs to be stamped out so no other businesses get the idea that they can pull this kind of nonsense.
Why do I get so up in arms about this stuff? Culturally, we almost *lost* breastfeeding. Did you know that? Seriously. Our ridiculously puritanical, consumerist, materialist culture almost lost a significant part of our humanity, and that's why I and many others will defend it with everything we've got.
Before anyone (and I'm looking at you lazarus7) pipes up with how a store is private property and they can make whatever rules they want and don't have to let women breastfeed on their premises: Actually, no, sorry, you're wrong. In BC you cannot deny a woman service or make her cover up for breastfeeding, even in a store. Please see http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/human-rights-protection/pdfs/SexDiscrimination&Harassment.pdf - this pamphlet specifies that it applies to stores and restaurants, and also specifically mentions breastfeeding. The formal statement can be found here: http://www.infactcanada.ca/br_bc_humanrights.htm It's pretty clear about this.
I'm looking forward to my first-ever protest nurse-in on Thursday afternoon. Should be fun :-D