Unacceptable and illegal discrimination continues
Jennifer Stone is not the only one whos received demeaning comments about her infant feeding choices. A sample of recent human rights abuses reported to INFACT Canada by breastfeeding mothers show us that such discriminatory attitudes remain far too common. Here are two letters.
Last week I was asked to leave by a local thrift store (Salvation Army, Gibsons, BC) because I was breastfeeding my 7 week old son. I have told him (the manager) about my rights and he didnt care, I did not leave and continued breastfeeding, the manager told me that that was a private store and that he could do anything he wanted, and threatened me to call the police. We were in disgust! I have breastfed my daughter in the past many times at that store and never had a problem.
I have called the main store to complain about the incident and first thing they asked me was that if I was breastfeeding discreetly!?
Ive received his phone call with an apology. Thank you for your help and I hope that all Salvation Army stores through Canada will be from now on aware that breastfeeding is legal, and never will a woman be harassed again as I was.
Sincerely, Tawha Barboza.
. . .
My name is Maia Akabuogu and Im writing to report an incident that occurred on the premises of Falconridge Community Playschool in Calgary, Alberta. I was watching my toddler play in class, and at the same time I had to nurse my 8-month-old infant because she got cranky and wanted to sleep. The playschool teacher approached me saying: "It is against our policy to breastfeed. Are you OK with that?"
I left immediately. In October I contacted La Leche League and was informed that breastfeeding is my Human Right! I have also asked Falconridge Playschool supervisor and was told that in fact there is no prohibition on breastfeeding, but because other kids parent(s) were uncomfortable seeing me I have to breastfeed more discretely and that a proper place can be found for me.
I have complained to Alberta Human Rights Commission in Edmonton, and their representative told me on the phone that even though breastfeeding is my human right, I still have to accommodate other people. My toddler continues to attend that school because it has been paid for the year in advance and it is quite hard to find another location. However, it is emotionally draining for me to face the staff and parents.
As an immigrant I respect the multicultural makeup of his class, but I have no clue which culture or individual has been offended by act of breastfeeding. The incident has not been resolved.
You have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime.
If your rights to breastfeed have been violated, you can lodge a complaint with your provincial/territorial human rights commission. See INFACTs website for the listing in your area. (http://www.infactcanada.ca/bf_commissions.htm) Be persistent!
And some very patronizing advice be invisible???
From Thomas P. Farleys book Town & Country Modern Manners: The Thinking Persons Guide to Social Graces (Hearst). The suggested "sensitive" guidelines for mothers who choose to breast-feed in public, according to the book:
Wear something that will cover most of your breast. If your baby will take an occasional bottle, try to schedule that bottle at the time of day when youll be in public.
Choose the best possible place to breast-feed. The ladies lounge of a department store or restaurant is ideal, so is a corner table in a restaurant, where you can face your chair toward the wall.
When with close friends or family, try to anticipate what their reactions might be.
If they approach you with a complaint, you might respond, "Im sorry you feel that way. Ill try to be more discreet."
By AP, October 13, 2005, http://torontosun.com/Lifestyle/2005/10/13/1260555-sun.html
And now from the BBC End public breastfeed prejudice
Mothers who want to breastfeed their babies in public should be protected from the prejudice that sometimes stops them from doing so, an MP says. Labours David Kidney is calling for the Department of Health to give nursing parents more information about the benefits of breastfeeding.
He is introducing a bill to stop "discrimination" against breastfeeders.
"It beats me that people can ogle breasts in newspapers" but cannot bear seeing a breastfeeding mother, he said.
Mr Kidney told MPs that there was [sic] "research findings piling up" that shows [sic] "breast milk is best".
"It is to stop a form of discrimination that stops parents from feeding their children in public areas."
Mr Kidney told MPs that a GP in a Birmingham restaurant was asked to stop feeding her baby at the table and to use the toilets instead. He said another woman at an exhibition suffered a volley of abuse and had her pushchair thrown away by a man offended by her breastfeeding.
Earlier this year, legislation in Scotland came into effect to make it an offence to stop nursing mothers from feeding their babies in places like bars, buses and shopping centres.
Mr Kidney said his bill, which would apply equally to bottle and breastfeeding of children under two years old, had the support of Unicef and the National Childbirth Trust.
Story from BBC NEWS: 2005/11/08
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4418370.stm