Public Breastfeeding

I read an article in the paper this weekend. A woman was breastfeeding at gym (local franchise of a regional chain) and was asked to go into the bathroom to feed her kid. Eventualy the corporate office put out a statement saying that it would make sure that all employees were made aware that breastfeeding is permitted by law everywhere in California.

My question is why did the corporate office think that was a good answer. It spoke only of the law. I would think that from a marketing standpoint, it might have been wiser to say "Breastfeeding is healthy for both mother and child. It is our policy to allow mothers to feed their children in all our clubs." Instead they put out a statement that says that they are aware that the law forces them to allow breastfeeding. Why can't a health club make a simple statemtent supporting the health of its members and their children?

 

LOL. Yeah, can't let them youngins see no titty. Might make them perverted.

 

Are you saying that breastfeeding is giving tit for tot?

My question is why their PR folks cried "law" rather than "health".

My fear is that their PR folks are competent and that "breastfeeding is OK because of law" impresses the public more favorably than "breastfeeding is OK because of health" would.

 

They want to cover their asses by the sounds of it.
There's a similar post to this in the parenting forum going on right now. The basic, all around opinion: IT'S PATHETIC!!!
I wonder how we're taught about basic things in life, like social skills, money, how to dress ourselves, etc, yet no where are we being taught about breastfeeding. I grew up thinking that babies only drank out of bottles. I can't remember what age I leaned about breastfeeding, but now that I think about it, it's pathetic!
I posted a link in the thread called "20/20 pn breastfeeding" in the parenting forum. I was watching that show the other night and they were talking about this new ad campaign that the government is putting out to "promote" breastfeeding by showing pregnant women riding mechanical bulls and running on logs in water and then says, "you wouldn't harm your baby while pregnant, why do it after?"
That made me soooooooooooooooo MAD!!!!! I wasn't able to breastfeed my dd, and I have gone through a lot of emotional crap and that made me feel awful. But I also thought that the tactic that they were using was terrible....scaring moms into breastfeeding? Hows about we get some education going?
Funny, too....they never showed anything to to with actual brestfeeding! One of the biggest reasons moms choose not to do it is because they're embarassed!
MaggieSugar pointed out that it was a big scam involving the formula companies, which makes complete sence, but this shit is still being fed to women's minds.
I could go on about this for hours, I'm not going to ramble on.
Basically, our society needs to get it's priorities in order!

 

My guess is that it's because focusing on the health benefits would lead to scary fundamentalist types boycotting them for promoting public indecency or some bs like that. At least complaints from people with the opinion that "do what's best for your health but not where I have to see".

Whereas with the legal angle, they don't have to take the flack from people who don't like it. "It's the law, don't complain to us, complain to your legislature."

From a marketing standpoint, a focus on health benefits might impress some, but it's likely drive plenty of others away (granted, they're not people any of us here would likely want to hang out with, but they're paying customers nonetheless). On the other hand, the "nothing we can do, it's the law" angle allows them to neither impress nor piss off anyone.

 

Gosh, they should look at it from the baby's point of view!

I mean, how would you like to eat where other people poop???

 

^^^never thought of it that way, it's really true!

 

cause thats the United States of America for you
god bless us all

 

Good answer!

 

Sorry i meant to quote dancerannie

 

What is wrong with breast feeding in public. I'll never understand the criticism against women !

 

My bf really impressed me on this one the other day. He works at a fabric store, and they just had their big grand opening... It was the first day I got to come in and see the place, so I was hanging out for a little while, when a bunch of employees all bunched around the cutting counter together and I heard them saying one of their customers (and a REGULAR customer, at that, from the old store) was walking around nursing her 10-day old baby as she shopped. The other employees were all very uncomfortable with this, and immediately started discussing whether they could ask her to leave! I was about to open my fat mouth to put them all in their place, when Ian beat me to it. He stopped them all, told them to shut up about it, that this is what breasts are for, first and foremost, and that they aren't going to mess up a relationship with a good customer just because some of the employees are too immature to handle it. On top of that, he said that she is nurturing the growth and well being of this tiny child in the best way it could possibly be done, and if they insisted on feeling ANYTHING about it, it should be gratitude that the woman felt them all worthy to share the moment with herself and her little one.

I've never been prouder of my boyfriend than I was at that moment.

 

Good for him! You're a lucky woman.

 

That is soooooooooooooooooo awsome! More people need to be like him!

 

do you have a problem with people peeing in public? if not, then breastfeeding is fine by me.

 

You're a 15 year old boy, still new to sexuality and stuff....

When you're older, and your wife is breastfeeding your child and you're out in public, you'll understand how inappropriate and inconvenient the prudishness about breasts and their PROPER use is to the mother, her child, and her other company....

 

While I don't think breastfeeding needs to be banished to bathrooms, I do think you have to understand that some people are uncomfortable with it. My Grandfather, for example, or people from his generation... women didn't breastfeed in public back in "his time". My Dad is even a little uncomfortable with being confronted with a strangers breast. And I honestly don't blame the person, I blame the culture. Breasts have been made into sexual things, not mother things.

I won't go sit in a bathroom or hide myself away when feeding my child, but I will toss a light blanket over my shoulder for the sake of those who may feel uncomfortable.

 

I totally agree with you. It doesn't have to be in your face, at the end of the day.

 

Hey I like the idea of a breast being a sexual thing dont ruin that for me! As for the whole breast feeding in public well a little tad bit of modesty is kinda nice. I mean Iam all for having a breat out there being seen and all but some old people might drop a heart valve or something.