Latched On

Switch to desktop Register Login

Tuesday, 15 May 2012 00:00

A New Form of Segregation

Rate this item
(3 votes)
Breastfeeding and the law Breastfeeding and the law

ONE AFTERNOON MY, mother, two daughters, and I went to have lunch at our favorite restaurant in Norfolk. It has been a tradition in our family to go there, and my daughters look forward to our experience each time. Unfortunately our last experience was not pleasant. After nursing my 5-month old daughter at our table, I was confronted by another customer and told that I should nurse in a private location and that there was going to be a law passed to forbid nursing in public. I smiled at her, told her that was her opinion, and to have a nice day. As time went on, I thought about how this would affect new nursing mothers who may not be as secure with the process, and it bothered me. For the first time in my life, I felt that people were trying to segregate me, and I was able to relate to what many individuals have experienced in the past. People have been segregated for many reasons including, race, sex, religion and now breast feeding in public.

Mothers have the right to nurse in public at any time in any place. In 1999, a federal law was enacted to ensure a woman’s right to breastfeed her child anywhere she had a right to be with her child, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother’s breasat was revealed during or incidental to the breastfeeding. Virginia’s state law exempts breastfeeding from their criminal statues, clarifying that it is not a violation to breastfeed a child in any public place. It also gives woman the right to breastfeed on any property owned, leased or controlled by the Commonwealth (Va. Code Ann. 18.2 – 387). The indecent exposure law states that every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, o r in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present (Va. Code Ann. 18.2 – 387). In 1996 the City of Philadelphia not only prohibited discriminating against breastfeeding mothers but also prohibited segregating breastfeeding mothers. If these are our federal and state laws, why do people still try to segregate nursing mothers?

      Breastfeeding is important for the lives and futures of our children. James P. Grant, the Executive Director of UNICEF, has cited studies showing, for example, that babies who are not breastfed have higher rates of death, meningitis, childhood leukemia and other cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, diarrhoeal diseases, otitis media, allergies, obesity and developmental delays. Women who do not breastfeed demonstrate a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Breast feeding is proven to be the best choice for mothers and babies and needs to be supported.

      Mothers who breastfeed make many sacrifices and need encouragement in order to be successful. Woman who breast feed are often up through the night and cannot ask their husbands to take their shift as easily as mothers who feed their babies formula. They cannot leave for extended amounts of time without pumping bottles and making special preparations. Breastfeeding mothers believe in what they are doing and make sacrifices because it is what is best for their babies. Unfortunately, these mothers often do not feel supported and are not confident to nurse in public places.

Text Box: A New Form of SegregationBY CECILIA WINGFIELD CORNELIUSONE AFTERNOON MY, mother, two daughters, and I went to have lunch at our favorite restaurant in Norfolk. It has been a tradition in our family to go there, and my daughters look forward to our experience each time. Unfortunately our last experience was not pleasant. After nursing my 5-month old daughter at our table, I was confronted by another customer and told that I should nurse in a private location and that there was going to be a law passed to forbid nursing in public. I smiled at her, told her that was her opinion, and to have a nice day. As time went on, I thought about how this would affect new nursing mothers who may not be as secure with the process, and it bothered me. For the first time in my life, I felt that people were trying to segregate me, and I was able to relate to what many individuals have experienced in the past. People have been segregated for many reasons including, race, sex, religion and now breast feeding in public.      Babies should be nursed on demand and often this every two hours, from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. That time frame does not give mothers enough time to go somewhere and make it home before the next feeding. I know many new mothers who stay home because they are concerned that their baby will get hungry and they don’t feel comfortable nursing in public. This can lead to post partum depression and the ending of nursing. Some mothers only feel comfortable nursing in bathrooms or dressing rooms when in public. It is a shame that mothers feel they have to be segregated from public locations and that they are not aware of their rights. Bathrooms are the last place that babies should be fed. You never see a bathroom with tables and chairs in it for people to eat their meals there.

      Our society needs to educate themselves about the rights of nursing mothers, the benefits of nursing babies, and support breastfeeding in public. If someone has a problem with seeing it, they should turn their head and go somewhere more private instead of asking the nursing mother to do so. There is something wrong with our society when Hooters billboards and restaurants are accepted but breastfeeding in public is not. Individuals who have a problem with nursing in public need to do some self reflection and evaluate why they feel that way. It is the best gift mothers can give their children and their support is deserved.

      Breastfeeding in public is not only a necessary choice, it is the right choice. The legal system continues to recognize and encourage this act and the rest of society needs to support it as well. Unfortunately, views and opinions are not easily changed; however, as individuals become more educated about this topic, they will. Breastfeeding in public is a natural, beautiful act that every mother has the right to do anywhere at any time. In the future, it is my dream that when breastfeeding mothers are confronted it won’t be negative; it will be positive and by smiling faces saying “lucky baby.”

 


Last modified on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 16:00

282576 comments

  • Comment Link VincentCig Saturday, 24 March 2018 11:14 posted by VincentCig

    viagra online rx
    generic viagra without a doctor prescription
    buying viagra in cabo san lucas
    generic viagra without a doctor prescription
    can u cut viagra pills half
    cheap viagra online
    can buy cheap viagra
    buy generic viagra online
    price for viagra in canada

  • Comment Link Myrongop Saturday, 24 March 2018 11:12 posted by Myrongop

    http://pharmacytonlines.com female pink viagra 100mg pills how to use female viagra video female viagra effects gold max female viagra reviews

  • Comment Link VincentCig Saturday, 24 March 2018 11:01 posted by VincentCig

    viagra 100 or 50 mg
    viagra without prescription
    buy viagra now uk
    viagra without a doctor prescription usa
    viagra generico entrega rapida
    buy viagra online
    se puede comprar viagra en cualquier farmacia
    buy viagra 100mg online
    get genuine viagra

  • Comment Link Myrongop Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:58 posted by Myrongop

    http://pharmacyyonlines.com cialis vs levitra vs viagra cialis dosage vs viagra dosage cialis vs viagra dose cialis vs viagra prices

  • Comment Link Myrongop Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:58 posted by Myrongop

    http://pharmacyhonlines.com order viagra from canada viagra order safe order viagra online do you need a prescription to order viagra from canada

  • Comment Link Myrongop Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:55 posted by Myrongop

    http://pharmacyfonlines.com price for viagra at cvs price on viagra price viagra best price for viagra in us

  • Comment Link Apelry Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:51 posted by Apelry

    viagra 3000mg
    generic viagra online
    generic viagra online reviews
    viagra cheap

  • Comment Link Agustinetela Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:51 posted by Agustinetela

    150 mg viagra dosage recommendations cost of generic viagra teva
    walmart prices for viagra availability of generic viagra

    low cost viagra generic generic viagra 100mg sildenafil prescription
    female viagra pills reviews 2017 availability of generic viagra

  • Comment Link Williamfub Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:49 posted by Williamfub

    online viagra no prescription
    viagra without a doctor prescription
    buy viagra online switzerland
    viagra without a doctors prescription
    buy viagra canada online no prescription
    buy viagra for sale online
    does 50 mg viagra work
    buy viagra for sale online
    how much will viagra cost when it goes generic

  • Comment Link Agustinetela Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:43 posted by Agustinetela

    pfizer viagra coupons samples viagra side effects mayo clinic
    viagra prices in usa cvs pharmacy viagra prices

    viagra for women commercial name for generic viagra
    reviews for female viagra viagra coupons 2017

Leave a comment

Make sure you enter the (*) required information where indicated.Basic HTML code is allowed.

Website: 2012 Latched-On

Top Desktop version