21 July 2011
Breastfeeding in the News
In the news last night there was a segment about a woman who was breastfeeding her son in the grocery store and a store employee asked her to cover up or go to a more private area of the store because her breastfeeding uncovered was making the other customers uncomfortable. Apparently this request was extremely offensive to this woman.
Really? That is offensive?
I am a nursing mother, and I appreciate that my state makes it legal to breastfeed in public, even uncovered. But to me, this is a modesty and courtesy issue. I do not think the benefits of breastfeeding make exposing your breast modest. A breast that can produce nourishment for a child is still a private body part and should be kept private.
Also, isn't it common courtesy to change your behavior when you learn that behavior makes others uncomfortable? I think it is. And in this instance no one asked her to stop breastfeeding or to leave the store; they simply asked her to breastfeed more privately.
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I agree completely! I've heard so many comments about how breast feeding is natural and therefore should be allowed in public uncovered. Well, urinating is natural too but that's not allowed in public (of course, urine is a little different than breast milk, but whatever).
ReplyDeleteOr they say "if you don't like it don't look!" Well, I wouldn't know to not look until I've already seen your exposed breast, so it is too late.
Also, so many people try to teach their young children about body parts that are private and should only be touched/seen by trusted people . . . then those same children see a woman's breast in public while she is breast feeding and suddenly little girls don't understand why they can't go shirtless in public and little boys are afraid they are going to get in trouble for seeing a private part of a woman.
Covering up while breast feeding in public is simply at matter of courtesy and good judgement.
Katie, I completely agree with you. It is common courtesy to change your behavior when you learn that it makes others uncomfortable.
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