International symbol for breastfeeding
Personally I think this is a very good idea.
“The purpose of an international symbol for breastfeeding is to increase public awareness of breastfeeding, to provide an alternative to the use of a baby bottle image to designate baby friendly areas in public, and to mark breastfeeding friendly facilities.
Of course, breastfeeding does not require a special place and is appropriate—as the Canadian government’s slogan says—”anytime, anywhere.” The purpose of the symbol is not to segregate breastfeeding, but to help integrate it into society by better accommodating it in public.
For example, sometimes there are no chairs in public, sometimes nowhere to change the baby, or for the mother separated from her baby, nowhere to plug in an electric breast pump. Mothers welcome quiet, private places in public where they can collect themselves and their children. The symbol could designate these kinds of places.” (full story. . .)
I have nursed in public many times over the years and plan to continue doing so, but a recent story of a breastfeeding mother being forced off a commercial airplane for nursing her child, makes me a bit nervous. I don’t know if the woman in the story was indeed being discreet in her nursing, but even so it’s ironic that the flight attendant was offended by it considering how many women publicaly wear what - to me - is truly offensive clothing. Tops that show quite a bit of their breasts in fact and yet I’ve never heard of anyone asking one of those woman to cover up because she was being offensive to others. So then why is it that when a mother breastfeeds her child - even discreetly - she is subject to scrutiny and criticism?
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Nov 15, 2006 - 06:11:03>So then why is it that when a mother breastfeeds her child - even discreetly - she is subject to scrutiny and criticism?
It truly is amazing how the same people who could not care less how immodestly everyone (young and old) are dressing are suddenly in an uproar over a woman nursing!
Yep, one of my bugbears too. Fortunately I’ve nursed (discreetly) pretty much anywhere and never had any adverse comments, but a symbol indicating that somewhere is breastfeeding friendly would be very encouraging.
I had not heard the airplane story although a few years ago a local woman was asked not to nurse her baby on a bench at the mall. She was absolutely discreet and there were no other places to nurse (except a toilet stall which she would not do). The next day, a couple dozen mothers showed up and nursed their babies in the mall, again very discreetly, to make a point. After all, they were selling clothes in the windows of the mall stores that showed more skin than that nursing mother did.
Great commentary on a subject near and dear to me. Way to go.
I totally agree with you. Thankfully, I haven’t had any problems nursing anywhere, even on airplanes. My sister and I were sitting on a bench at the mall last week nursing our babies at the same time. It seems natural. If it bothers someone she can turn her head, just like I do when see the offensive clothing.
Well said, and I just love that international breastfeeding symbol. The generic baby is so cute.
I think the nursing baby symbol is so cute, too! That kind of visual symbol makes a big difference to public perception, I believe!