The Imperfect Community

[ThreeWashburns]

Thought all you breastfeeding advocates would love this!

I live in the Fort Worth, TX area. Last week a woman was sitting in the food court of a local mall breastfeeding her child. This woman was very well covered - no breast or nipple visible unless maybe you were trying very hard to see something - I guess. Anyway, a security guard told her she would have to go to the ladies room to do that or leave the mall. ( Yeah, cause I want to eat lunch in a nasty public restroom don't you?) The woman left but was sure to complain to the mall and the head of security (and apparently the local news).
OOPS! Seems the security guard was not aware that there is a state law in Texas allowing breastfeeding in any public or private place regardless if the mother chooses to cover herself or not.
It was all over the local news causing great embarrassment and bad publicity for the mall, their management, and the security company.

At least the publicity of the event empowered those women who choose to breastfeed.

[Jessica]

I agree that this was an injustice (if it's true) - to tell the woman to go nurse her baby in the bathroom - ick. I do however, think these kind of situations are becoming increasingly rare. In fact, it's probably more rare than security guards telling a group of minorities to leave a mall simply because of how they're dressed or because of racial biases. One happens to get more publicity than the other. Bfing advocates, IMO, love these stories to perpetuate their victimization.

I dunno...try as they might....I just don't see this major discrimination against bfing mothers. <shrugs>

[Scout]

Yeah, I was on the phone with a friend who lives in Dallas when this came on her local news. She said the mall had immediately apologized and shown that this was not mall policy. The security guard was acting on a complaint from another patron, apparently unaware that he could not tell the nursing mother to stop or leave.

I think these kinds of stories mostly illustrate the fact that a lot of individuals are still ignorant and hostile about breastfeeding. Most businesses have learned from the high-profile cases that this is a no-no, but the new knowledge hasn't trickled down sometimes. And even though businesses are learning, it's unfortunate that so many women are subjected to hostility even from friends and family members. I was just reading a post on another board where a woman's in-laws would not allow her to bf in the same room as them under a blanket because, as they said, "we still know what you're doing under there."

I'm glad to know that it's not like that everywhere, and that there are parts of the country and pockets in other areas where women are free to nurse their babies when and wherever they need to. However, I think it's important to realize that there are still too many places where this is not the case, and where women are too afraid to nurse their babies where they sit, and have to seek out a nasty bathroom or go all the way back to their car to avoid criticism. I'm not claiming this is a huge crisis of injustice--it's just stupid and it needs to stop.

[ThreeWashburns]

I thought the incident was interesting. The news reports I saw did not say anything about another patron complaining. That at least explains why the security guard might have said something. I used to be in a sunday school class with the manager of that mall and I could only imagine how he must have been freaking out with all the news coverage of the incident.
I'm glad the woman felt strongly enough to complain and get the news out. I probably would have just slunk home and never gone there again.
I was glad the news covered it because I had no idea that Texas had such a law. And informing people of the law will stop other people from complaining if that is what happened.

I know I had to stay in the baby's room every time I needed to bfeed my son when my in-laws were here because they were uncomfortable with it. Their own daughter bfed her two children - but I guess they felt less uncomfortable when it was their own child.

Just thought it was an interesting tid bit!

[MedeaNJ]

I had to throw out my Mothering magazine issue that covered the laws in all 50 states...::sigh::

What irks me is that those in what seems to be considered 'The Bible Belt' is the most restrictive. Folks that complain might also be under the subliminal belief that Jesus did not breastfeed.

Just my 2c

[Sewingsiren]

It is very unfortunate and puzzling that someone would ask a breastfeeding mom to leave a public place. I'm glad she stood up for her rights. The law is on her side .

[Jessica]

[Petulant Pixie]

I just wish we could get to a point where feeding babies isn't an issue at all. I am so tired of the judgement and hoopla either way. It's horrible when your baby is hungry and you go to feed it--either way--and have to wonder if you're being judged by the people around you. Of course, none of them would have the guts to say anything right then-no, they wait and say something on a public forum about how sorry they felt for your formula-fed baby, not getting the "standard" nutrients, or having to wait a minute while you made up the bottle, or whatever the fuck. Or you see it the next day on TV, after maybe you told all your friends and family, "Hey, guess who was next to me on the plane? Barbara Walters!!!", then everyone you know, knows that you made Barbara Walters uncomfortable. Really, that had to suck for that lady, whoever she was!

Why is this even an issue? Why does anyone care how a baby is fed? The whole thing just baffles me.