(one of the reason’s I’m glad my dad doesn’t read my LJ)
from BostonHerald.com: I highlighted the real juicy bits…
The battle over public breast-feeding has moved to a new front line: Victoria’s Secret stores, where lacy bras are in, but nursing mothers are out, angry moms charge.
A Quincy mother says she was humiliated when an employee of the lingerie franchise’s Faneuil Hall store flatly refused to allow her to breast-feed her daughter, directing her to a public restroom outside.
“I was upset. I was embarrassed. My heart was breaking for my daughter,” said Jessie Chandler, who ended up going home to feed her 9-month-old daughter, Charlotte. “I felt powerless to do anything.”
Anthony Hebron, a spokesman for Victoria’s Secret, apologized yesterday, saying the Boston employee was a new hire. Hebron said it’s store policy to allow women to breast-feed in the store.
But Chandler, 24, and other moms say that policy isn’t trickling down to the employees who work with the public – and they cite instances of similar problems at the chain’s stores in two other states. They are planning a “nurse in” protest July 1.
“I’m sure that they have models in their stores and catalogs that have a lot more breast showing than any woman who’s breast-feeding,” said Anne Merewood, director of the breast-feeding center at Boston Medical Center.
“If they’re going to make their money off of selling things for women’s breasts, they ought to recognize all aspects of the breast,” Merewood said.
When Chandler’s hungry daughter began crying as her mom shopped, the mother asked a saleswoman if she could use a dressing room to breast-feed her baby. The woman said no and directed her to a public bathroom outside the shop. The woman said lots of women were changing in the rooms and it’s “unsanitary.”
Chandler said she asked the saleswoman if she was telling her that her breast milk was unsanitary. The saleswoman said it was store policy. A shocked Chandler left the store and went home.
Massachusetts is one of the few states that doesn’t have laws to protect breast-feeding women. Women who breast-feed in public in Massachusetts can be charged with indecent exposure or lewd and lascivious conduct. A bill that would prevent people from booting breast-feeding mothers from public places and police from charging them has been stalled at the State House.
Last year, a woman was told she couldn’t breast-feed her baby in a Victoria’s Secret in South Carolina.
On Wednesday, sales associates at a Wisconsin Victoria’s Secret told a mother her exposed breast might offend some customers.
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That last one really gets me: it’s not like this is Toys R’ Us, folks. It’s Victoria’s Secret! Their ads, posters and mannequins show more boob than most breastfeeding women. Like I said, I kinda wish I were breastfeeding because I would definitely be parking my unsanitary and indecent keister outside my local Victoria’s Secret this Saturday.
This stuff makes my blood boil (As a health practitioner who promotes breast feeding).
1. Breast feeding is so discreet. Many women use shawls to cover themselves so as not to cause any offence and embaressment.
2. Breats feeding is THE most hygeinic way of feeding a child. It’s sterile and clean.
3. It’s completely natural and there are numerous health benefits for mother and baby. In a society where obesity is a problem people should be embracing something which prevents it!
4. I don’t know about over there, but here it is illegal to prevent mothers breast feeding in certain public places. E.g. Restauraunts. the state of Massachusetts is clearly living in the fricken dark ages!
Gahhhhh! I hate narrow minded idiots!
This bit made me laught “I’m sure that they have models in their stores and catalogs that have a lot more breast showing than any woman who’s breast-feeding,” said Anne Merewood, director of the breast-feeding center at Boston Medical Center.
“If they’re going to make their money off of selling things for women’s breasts, they ought to recognize all aspects of the breast,” Merewood said.
:D
Recently in the UK a woman was breastfeeding in public and people called the police! OMGWTF?! My best friend is a breastfeeding counsellor, I have a ‘breastfeeding makes a difference’ bracelet I wear with pride. :D
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I don’t live in Mass, but apparently there’s now a House Resolution that would protect nursing mothers from such ignorance. I hope it passes.
Nice!
The police?! My God…that means I should call the police next time I see someone in a string bikini or Speedo right *shudder*
Ahhahahahahaha! People are soooo stupid. When women breastfeed you can barely see their breast…and of course you can’t see the *oh no!* dreaded nipple…lol, because the kid’s face is in front of it. It’s a natural thing…what’s so natural about the crazy contraption bras they sell that mangle your boobs every which way? :-D
What hypocrites!
Amen, sister :D