Lactivism
I'm currently embroiled in an argument with our local recreation center. Someone I know was asked to cover up whilst breastfeeding today during a 2 hour session specifically aimed at toddlers and preschoolers. According to them, they have done nothing wrong because they only asked her to cover up and not to stop. Well, Iowa law protects breastfeeding in public even if the nipples is exposed incidental to the feeding. I wasn't there, but according to the lady in question she was being very discreet and is generally quite modest about it all. Some old fuck made a complaint and she was asked to "cover up" or go to the bathroom. This has been the correspondence so far
Me to them:
An acquaintance of mine was asked to cease breastfeeding in the main
gym and the lunch room at the indoor playground today. As a mother who
frequents the indoor playground and also breastfeeds a 2 year old on
demand, this worries me very much. Most of the friends I attend with
also breastfeed their babies and toddlers. I would like to know your
organizations policy on breastfeeding on premises. I am sure you are
aware that Iowa law 135.30A Breastfeeding in Public Places states that
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a woman
may breast-feed the woman's own child in any public place where the
woman's presence is otherwise authorized." And that WHO guidelines
suggest that all children be breastfed till the 2nd year of life and
"as long as is mutually desirable". I would think a community program
aimed at such young children would be a safe place for breastfeeding
to be respected.
I understand that some other stuffy citizen probably complained and
the staff member in question was probably trying to appease everyone
by suggesting this lady breastfeed in the locker room or bathroom, but
I ask you, seriously, would you pack up all your stuff and your older
child and trudge down to eat YOUR lunch in the bathroom? Might I
suggest that all staff members are made aware of the law in Iowa for
future cases of complaint?
I have contacted the Courier as I thought it news worthy that a
prominent community resource like the Rec center was breaking the law.
To which they responded:
Bel & Ward - This morning at our Indoor Park program we did have a lady breast feeding a younger child while in the gym. After receiving a complaint regarding this, I had a female staff member talk to the lady in question and asked that she be a little more discrete and cover the breast the next time she wanted to feed the baby. This staff person also said that if she did not want to cover up, that the locker room, the restroom or the activity room could be used since they offered a little more privacy. I just call the staff person and confirmed that we did NOT tell the lady in question she could not breast feed in our facility, just that she cover up & be more discrete to help avoid making our other patrons uncomfortable. I do apologize if there was any mis-communication or mis-interpretation of what the lady was being asked to do. This is one of the unwritten request we make of patrons as we try to accommodate all those using our facility.
To which I responded:
Yes, you're absolutely right. She was asked to feed in the locker room
or bathroom IF she was unwilling to cover up. I have been told the
female staff member in question did not witness the breastfeeding and
my friend assures me she was being discreet. I do not see in the law
where it stipulates that a woman may breastfeed in public only if she
covers her chest. And what exactly do you consider "covered up" and
who gets to decide what this standard is? There is nothing offensive
about breastfeeding. If I complained because someone was bottlefeeding
their baby I would laughed out of town so I don't see why we should be
stigmatizing what is perfectly natural and normal.
Do you not see how utterly offensive it is to ask someone to conduct
an act of nature under a blanket or in a bathroom? Should I go to
bathroom to sneeze or to scratch my head? Unacceptable. If this is the
view of your organization I know that I, and many others will not feel
comfortable frequenting it any longer.
Shit like this really riles me up.
Me to them:
An acquaintance of mine was asked to cease breastfeeding in the main
gym and the lunch room at the indoor playground today. As a mother who
frequents the indoor playground and also breastfeeds a 2 year old on
demand, this worries me very much. Most of the friends I attend with
also breastfeed their babies and toddlers. I would like to know your
organizations policy on breastfeeding on premises. I am sure you are
aware that Iowa law 135.30A Breastfeeding in Public Places states that
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a woman
may breast-feed the woman's own child in any public place where the
woman's presence is otherwise authorized." And that WHO guidelines
suggest that all children be breastfed till the 2nd year of life and
"as long as is mutually desirable". I would think a community program
aimed at such young children would be a safe place for breastfeeding
to be respected.
I understand that some other stuffy citizen probably complained and
the staff member in question was probably trying to appease everyone
by suggesting this lady breastfeed in the locker room or bathroom, but
I ask you, seriously, would you pack up all your stuff and your older
child and trudge down to eat YOUR lunch in the bathroom? Might I
suggest that all staff members are made aware of the law in Iowa for
future cases of complaint?
I have contacted the Courier as I thought it news worthy that a
prominent community resource like the Rec center was breaking the law.
To which they responded:
Bel & Ward - This morning at our Indoor Park program we did have a lady breast feeding a younger child while in the gym. After receiving a complaint regarding this, I had a female staff member talk to the lady in question and asked that she be a little more discrete and cover the breast the next time she wanted to feed the baby. This staff person also said that if she did not want to cover up, that the locker room, the restroom or the activity room could be used since they offered a little more privacy. I just call the staff person and confirmed that we did NOT tell the lady in question she could not breast feed in our facility, just that she cover up & be more discrete to help avoid making our other patrons uncomfortable. I do apologize if there was any mis-communication or mis-interpretation of what the lady was being asked to do. This is one of the unwritten request we make of patrons as we try to accommodate all those using our facility.
To which I responded:
Yes, you're absolutely right. She was asked to feed in the locker room
or bathroom IF she was unwilling to cover up. I have been told the
female staff member in question did not witness the breastfeeding and
my friend assures me she was being discreet. I do not see in the law
where it stipulates that a woman may breastfeed in public only if she
covers her chest. And what exactly do you consider "covered up" and
who gets to decide what this standard is? There is nothing offensive
about breastfeeding. If I complained because someone was bottlefeeding
their baby I would laughed out of town so I don't see why we should be
stigmatizing what is perfectly natural and normal.
Do you not see how utterly offensive it is to ask someone to conduct
an act of nature under a blanket or in a bathroom? Should I go to
bathroom to sneeze or to scratch my head? Unacceptable. If this is the
view of your organization I know that I, and many others will not feel
comfortable frequenting it any longer.
Shit like this really riles me up.