Breast-Feeding, Washington | 07/24/2009 9:45 am
Moms Battle for Right to Breast-Feed in Public. Tell Us What You Think
Washington state law recognizes public breast-feeding for moms as a civil right, as of this weekend; Alaska mom shares embarrassing story.
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Should women be allowed to breast-feed in public? And, if so, should they be required to cover up before they do so?
That’s the debate currently raging as Washington prepares to join a host of other states this weekend when breast-feeding in public places becomes a civil right. That means moms can’t be embarrassed by being asked to leave or cover up in public parks, movie theaters or other public places.
On April 22, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed into law a breast-feeding civil-rights bill that amends certain state anti-discrimination statutes to give mothers the right "to breast-feed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage or amusement." It does not, however, provide any rights in relation to pumping or nursing at work." The state Human Rights Commission will investigate complaints.
In 2001, Washington enacted a law that exempts breast-feeding from the indecent-exposure laws and encourages employers to accommodate breast-feeding mothers.
This debate isn’t just going on in Washington.
In Alaska, for example, mom Jill Balgie says she was sitting on the side of a kiddie pool in Anchorage on July 15, breast-feeding her ten-month-old son with a t-shirt on and a towel, when a park employee brought a towel over to her, implying she should cover up, and asked her not to feed her child on the pool deck.
On her family’s blog, Balgie says: "The female employee kindly informed me someone had complained about me breast-feeding and I could nurse in the upper balcony or in the bathroom. She had also brought along a towel so I could cover myself. I informed her that I had been covered when I was nursing. I felt very uncomfortable, shocked and no longer wanted to patronize this establishment so I left." She also says the CEO of the park told her: "NO, NO WAY. I’M SO SICK OF YOU MILITANT BREAST-FEEDING MOTHERS." Alaska does have a law allowing breast-feeding in public.
Balgie called around to local breast-feeding advocates, and, a few days after a friend put up a Facebook page, 200 supporters signed up and rumors spread of civil disobedience — of "lactivists" organizing a breast-feeding protest in the park’s parking lot, according to the Anchorage Daily News.
As of May, 43 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, have laws with language specifically allowing women to breast-feed in any public or private location; 28 states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands exempt breast-feeding from public indecency laws, while 24 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have laws related to breastfeeding in the workplace.
A question to our wOw readers: Honestly, how does it make you feel when someone is breast-feeding their baby near you in public? Should all states have laws like Washington’s, protecting the rights of breast-feeding moms?
Read more about: Alaska, Breast-Feeding, Civil Right, Indecency, Moms, News, Nursing, Public, States, U.S., Washington
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145 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
HI DeBurca,I DID BREAST FEED OUR DAUGHTER AND ONCE WHEN I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE SHE WAS HUNGRY AND NO PLACE TO GO FOR PRIVACY IT WAS A MUST DO AND SO I DID IT. I PLACED A THIN BASSINET COVER OVER MY BABY AND SELF AND HER . THE LOOKS OF HUNGER WERE ALL OVER THE FACES OF THE OTHER TRAVELERS. THE MEN ( IF I CAN CALL THEM THAT TO BE POLITE) WANTED TO JUMP ME THEN AND THERE ON THAT TRAIN RIDE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW UPSET I WAS AND THEN I SORT OF DRIED UP FOR THAT FEEDING. I WAS BROUGHT UP BY AN OLD FASHIONED MOTHER WHO COVERED HERSELF AND THE NEW BABY AT OUR DINNERS AND SO FORTH IN FRONT OF OUR OWN MOTHER AND NEW SIBLING. WELL AS I GREW UP I ADOPTED MY MOTHERS WAYS OF DOING THINGS SO I TOO COVEREND MYSELF. BUT ON THAT TRAIN RIDE I LEARNED WHAT A BUNCH OF NASTY OLD MEN AND SOME WOMEN ARE OUT THERE. THE FILTYNESS THAT GOS THRU VULGAR AND UNEDUCATED PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC. IT SHOWS A LOT OF IGNORANCE AND HOW DIRTY MINDED THEY REALLY ARE AND HOW UNCARING THE IDIOTS ARE,.!!!!
I don’t mind when women breastfeed in public. I do, however, think that they should place a blanket or some other drape over their chest while doing it.
I understand that nursing is what breasts are made for - but truthfully, sex is what our reproductive organs are for, but we can’t have sex on the pooldeck, either. Nor do we give birth on the sidewalk, but in a curtained, private room or home.
Yet it is ok to sit openly in public feeding a baby a bottle full of fake food, knowing it is not the best for the child? Personally, I would love it for my young son to grow up seeing women’s breasts in the context of nourishing and nurturing their babies. As an adult male, he would have a healthy concept of women’s bodies and a respect for them.
To equate women nursing babies to people having sex on the sidewalks is very telling of a society with a very twisted view of women’s bodies and their right to use them. Do you have a problem with men walking around with their shirts off? I’ve seen some pretty big boobs on some men.
HI AGAIN DeBurca obj, i am back. i messed up some spelling on the one up there and i do get uptight when things like thta do hapeen. I GAVE BORTH TO 6 BABIES WHO HAVE GROWN UP THINKING WELL, RIGHT, AND ON SOME THING THEY ARE ABLE TO CARRY ON DECENT INTELLIGENT CONVERSATIONS ABOT MOST SUBJECTS. I HAVE 3 SONS AND 3 DAUGHTERS. THEIR SPOUSES IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER LET IT BE SAID OUT LOUD IN FRONT OF THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS —-JUST HOW HOT IN BED MY KIDS ARE. WE ALL STILL BLUSH AND GENERALLY IT IS SAID —-OH MOM HAD I KNOWN YOU WERE THERE I WOULD NEVER HAVE CARRIED ON IN SUCH A WAY. SO I FORGIVE THEM FOR BEING GOOD IN BED AND TELL THEM ___ WAY TO GO AND THEN WE LOL ! BUT IT IS STILL IN A CONFINED AREAS MY KIDS BEHAVE LIKE THAT AND THEY ARE NOT OUTSIDE IN PUBLIC AREAS SHOWING OFF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY CAN SCREAM UOT.
PARNETS TEACH THE CHILDREN GOOD BEHAVIOR.
when was the last time you took your breasts out in public?
Oh, come on! Dream on. You seriously think that uncovered breast-feeding in public will somehow change a man’s fascination/obsession w/ breasts as sex objects? Hardehar! Believe it or not, many of us w/ a perfect understanding of the basic use of breasts STILL don’t care to see them exposed in public. Breast-feed all you want to, but a little discretion goes a long way, too. I think many breast-feeders are just as fanatic as those who would relegate them to closets for the feedings. It’s a kind of "in your face" thing. Just because something is "natural" doesn’t mean it’s all that attractive for others to witness in all its glory.
Laurie,
If you look at the situation realistically……a woman nursing her baby (even uncovered by a blanket, rarely do you see that.)
has less breast exposure than woman prancing around in a Bikini bathing suit……….my gosh the head and face of a baby
covers more of the womans breast than that tiny triangle called a bathing suit.
Most women are very discreet……….I think seeing a woman nurse her child is a very beautiful picture to behold.
America flaunts everything sexual……..advertising……..clothing women wear. Breast are right out there in the public all the time, about the only thing that isn’t exposed is the Nipple itself. Well a sweet baby’s mouth around it’s mothers nipple is not breast exposure. It’s narrow minded people who need to get a reality check.
Nature designed the breast as a means to feed the offspring.
That fact that it’s a fun place to play sexually is just a bonus……
Emily KKnaus, we are in complete agreement.
C Hardy,
And penises were made for urinating and sex. So are you suggesting that men just pee in public when the urge strikes?
Deburca,
What’s twisted about it? Both are natural functions.