Woman kicked off plane for breast-feeding baby

1235

Comments

  • VictoryGin wrote:
    What's weird is that seeing breasts in a sexual context is okay, but seeing them in the context for which they were made is not okay. If you look around you, sex and breasts are used to sell most things and you see them in sexual contexts in movies, on tv, (think about how much more 'normal' it is to see breasts than a penis on tv and in a movie) etc.

    It really pisses me off when people get all worked up over breastfeeding. It's so amazingly stupid.

    LOL Actually...

    It would be pretty hilarious if most products were sold by displaying the buldge as the key marketing grab. (No pun intended)

    Of course, if it had always been that way maybe it would just be normal?
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    have you read the book 'slut'? i cant remember the author. it's a very interesting argument that women do more to contain and restrict the sexuality of women than men do.

    no, but i think i know which book that is. is it a collection of women's stories who were labeled sluts? the problem with something like that (if i'm thinking of the right book) is that sure, you can put a collection of essays together to paint any picture when you're not using representative samples. i'm not dismissing the occurance of some women perpetuating that kind of oppression, but it's certainly not the whole picture. and i'm not sure that women could be blamed for originating that kind of thing.
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    LOL Actually...

    It would be pretty hilarious if most products were sold by displaying the buldge as the key marketing grab. (No pun intended)

    Of course, if it had always been that way maybe it would just be normal?

    yeah, i think you're right. :)
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    VictoryGin wrote:
    no, but i think i know which book that is. is it a collection of women's stories who were labeled sluts? the problem with something like that (if i'm thinking of the right book) is that sure, you can put a collection of essays together to paint any picture when you're not using representative samples. i'm not dismissing the occurance of some women perpetuating that kind of oppression, but it's certainly not the whole picture. and i'm not sure that women could be blamed for originating that kind of thing.

    nah, i dont think that's it. this was a sociological study about the development and application of the word as i recall. sure, there were stories in it, but it wasn't just a compilation of tales.
  • pics?
    ..And we're all gonna be...

    ..Just dirt in the ground...
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    nah, i dont think that's it. this was a sociological study about the development and application of the word as i recall. sure, there were stories in it, but it wasn't just a compilation of tales.

    i was thinking of this one:
    http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-0060957409-5

    not that it really matters though.
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    VictoryGin wrote:
    i was thinking of this one:
    http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-0060957409-5

    not that it really matters though.

    that's the one. as i recall it was a solid blend of narrative and research though. maybe my memory was fault... i WAS smoking a lot of pot in those days... enough to take a feminist literature class ;)
  • Personally I don't mind mothers servicing their children in public at all.

    Especially when I've got a good angle.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • EbizzieEbizzie Posts: 240
    Breast feeding a 22 month old toddler. That's definitely kind of awkward.
    "Worse than traitors in arms are the men who pretend loyalty to the flag, feast and fatten on the misfortunes of the nation while patriotic blood is crimsoning the plains." -- Abraham Lincoln
  • Well...it's a breast after all....and guys are conditioned to look...and we are also well aware that we shouldn't be looking...so it's just a very difficult thing when it's out there for all to see....

    Urinating is also a very natural thing, but how would you feel if there wasn't a door between you and me standing at a urinal peeing? A little uncomfortable I'm guessing, even though it's natural.
    Lol, too funny you should mention that. My new housemate last night explained his tendency to leave the door open while peeing... he said I shouldn't be disturbed over it :D:D:D:D

    Feckin weirdo :cool:
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    My new housemate last night explained his tendency to leave the door open while peeing... he said I shouldn't be disturbed over it :D:D:D:D

    And he was talking about his bedroom door! :eek:
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    Another document with breastfeeding information:
    http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm
    from the centers for disease control.

    Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years? Do you know why? As long as a child is breastfeeding it is receiving the benefit of the mother's immune system. In developing countries this is extremely important in the survival of the child. It is helpful in the US too. Both my children had extremely mild cases of chickenpox because I'd already had it years ago (and a terrible case, so I'd built up lots of immunity) and they were breastfed during their illness which allowed them to benefit from my immunity and build up their own.

    I think if more people were knowledgeable about breastfeeding we wouldn't have these types of situations as someone getting kicked off a plane. I would add though, that simply because the mother was breastfeeding might not have been all it was. Maybe she was rude to the flight attendent, who knows. I breastfed children on countless trans-continental flights, in the 90's and NEVER had a problem from ANYONE on ANY flight. (and thank goodness - who'd want to carry all those bottles and have to worry about keeping them clean and mixing formula with water that came from god knows where - i could be sure that my children were getting safe and healthy food). There are just so many things we don't know about the original situation.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • angelicaangelica Posts: 6,038
    VictoryGin wrote:
    no, but i think i know which book that is. is it a collection of women's stories who were labeled sluts? the problem with something like that (if i'm thinking of the right book) is that sure, you can put a collection of essays together to paint any picture when you're not using representative samples. i'm not dismissing the occurance of some women perpetuating that kind of oppression, but it's certainly not the whole picture. and i'm not sure that women could be blamed for originating that kind of thing.

    I agree. I view the problem of female cattiness as a consequence of patriarchy. When women's achievements are many times assessed by the males who hold the majority of power, it can be natural that women might fight each other for the male-handed-out power. This means competing on the male terms, rather than developing one's own, and being true to one's nature. For example, partriarchical systems tend to be hierarchical, and therefore one person will "win out", rather than with lateral systems where each individual is appreciated for their own merits. Women's brains naturally work more laterally, although apparently we alter that with a lifetime of "selling out" to the other system. In hierachies, one is encouraged to win at the expense of another. Therefore this is by no means a woman-only way. And yet, it can manifest itself with women in a need to be "better" than the woman beside her, including all kinds of underhanded methods of doing so.

    It nauseates me to see women support such hierarchies. And yet, the large majority of women most of us meet were also raised in a patriarchical system and naturally pander to and perpetuate it. It's just where we are at this time with men and women creating the imbalance.
    "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr

    http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta

    Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
  • angelicaangelica Posts: 6,038
    JaneNY wrote:
    I think if more people were knowledgeable about breastfeeding we wouldn't have these types of situations as someone getting kicked off a plane.

    If the majority were truly understanding of breastfeeding, I suspect we'd treat it with the respect it deserves and the widespread policies (such as airline policy) would automatically support feeding mothers.
    "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr

    http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta

    Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    The child is almost two years old, the parents knew they were taking a flight of less than 1 hr.1/2 could she not have prepared a bottle of breast milk, juice or water? No! there is nothing wrong with breast feeding. At 22 months, however, parents do have some control and options.

    What puzzles me is why she did this at the boarding stage of the flight? The mother's location would not have prevented her from being exposed to passengers looking for their seats or placing their carryon bags. Again, why pick the boarding stage when a child is likely to be distracted by the activity on the plane or outside of the window?

    If her "legal right" outweighed her indiscretion, why didn't she feed the child in the terminal while waiting for the flight? Why did she feel the need to wait until they were on the plane to immediately start breast feeding?
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
  • angelicaangelica Posts: 6,038
    puremagic wrote:
    The child is almost two years old, the parents knew they were taking a flight of less than 1 hr.1/2 could she not have prepared a bottle of breast milk, juice or water? No! there is nothing wrong with breast feeding. At 22 months, however, parents do have some control and options.

    What puzzles me is why she did this at the boarding stage of the flight? The mother's location would not have prevented her from being exposed to passengers looking for their seats or placing their carryon bags. Again, why pick the boarding stage when a child is likely to be distracted by the activity on the plane or outside of the window?

    If her "legal right" outweighed her indiscretion, why didn't she feed the child in the terminal while waiting for the flight? Why did she feel the need to wait until they were on the plane to immediately start breast feeding?

    Parents do have their options, and they are entitled to choose them for their own personal reasons. Others may not understand. So be it.
    "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr

    http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta

    Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    puremagic wrote:
    The child is almost two years old, the parents knew they were taking a flight of less than 1 hr.1/2 could she not have prepared a bottle of breast milk, juice or water? No! there is nothing wrong with breast feeding. At 22 months, however, parents do have some control and options.

    What puzzles me is why she did this at the boarding stage of the flight? The mother's location would not have prevented her from being exposed to passengers looking for their seats or placing their carryon bags. Again, why pick the boarding stage when a child is likely to be distracted by the activity on the plane or outside of the window?

    If her "legal right" outweighed her indiscretion, why didn't she feed the child in the terminal while waiting for the flight? Why did she feel the need to wait until they were on the plane to immediately start breast feeding?

    Its not so easy. Do you have children? At this age the mothere is not going to offer the breast in this situation, but the child will ask for it if it wants it. (And they do it much younger too) A breastfeeding child and mother are a long term cemented relationship. You just can't hand a kid that age who has never seen or used a bottle and expect them to know what to do with it. Additionally, breastfeeding (nursing) is NOT just about providing sustenance. There is also an important emotional factor involved too. To a child who is used to breastfeeding, it is used as a calming factor and a way to feel secure. Getting on a plane, in a crowded unfamiliar environment is not going to be the best feeling for a little one. To give him or her a few moments reassurance at the breast is the most natural thing in the world and my guess is that is what was going on.

    Additionally, takeoff and landing with the pressure changes can be quite unpleasant on the eardrums particulary for little ones who don't understand what is going on, and that it will be over soon. (Remember how the flight attendants hand out mints to suck on when the landings are hurting peoples' ears?) Sucking on the breast can help the child decrease his or her pain level during the takeoff and landing, and perhaps the mother wanted the child to get settled so it wouldn't be in pain during takeoff.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • V VV V Posts: 5,191
    JaneNY wrote:
    Are you a leader? Good for you! I was one from 91 to about 2002 or so. I forget when I retired. Did you ever do the 800 line? I used to on weekends.


    yes :) here in the UK , I am on 24-7 for calls , i get only around 2 a week so its ok.
    ~~~~~~~~~~ PINK FLUFFY LOVE PSYCHO~~~~~~~~~~
    Astoria,Dublin,Reading 06,Wembley 07,Sheapards Bush & o2 09 thats multiple Jamgasms!
  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    JaneNY wrote:
    Its not so easy. Do you have children? At this age the mothere is not going to offer the breast in this situation, but the child will ask for it if it wants it. (And they do it much younger too) A breastfeeding child and mother are a long term cemented relationship. You just can't hand a kid that age who has never seen or used a bottle and expect them to know what to do with it. Additionally, breastfeeding (nursing) is NOT just about providing sustenance. There is also an important emotional factor involved too. To a child who is used to breastfeeding, it is used as a calming factor and a way to feel secure. Getting on a plane, in a crowded unfamiliar environment is not going to be the best feeling for a little one. To give him or her a few moments reassurance at the breast is the most natural thing in the world and my guess is that is what was going on.

    Additionally, takeoff and landing with the pressure changes can be quite unpleasant on the eardrums particulary for little ones who don't understand what is going on, and that it will be over soon. (Remember how the flight attendants hand out mints to suck on when the landings are hurting peoples' ears?) Sucking on the breast can help the child decrease his or her pain level during the takeoff and landing, and perhaps the mother wanted the child to get settled so it wouldn't be in pain during takeoff.


    Being that the child is nearly two, it is not dependent solely on breast feeding. I have no doubt, barring any medical or disability issues, she drinks juice and water from either a cup or bottle. So, for all the reasons you have stated, the mother could have just as easily provided the same simulated nursing relief from flight pressure utilizing a bottle of breast milk, juice or water as they knew that would be flying. The emotional factor of being near the mother was not an issue. As the mother indicated that there were three occupied seats, she had already been holding the child.

    The flight attendant offered her a blanket for privacy, not to stop the breast feeding process. If the blanket was unacceptable, why didn't the parents simply use something they had packed. The parents knew that they nursed this child, they knew they were taking a flight, why didn't they have a towel handy that could have been used? They could have used their jacket or sweater. I don't see where her rights were violated. I would speculate that the reason she was removed from the plane was because she became argumentative and disruptive with her "my legal rights" because I am mother and your not, you know nothing and, see, its just a breast speech and attitude while flashing it as a titty. [Its a titty when there's no baby attached, it doesn't make a difference what it was used for 5 minutes beforehand.]

    Making the point that only parents can understand and appreciate the nursing process is absurd. Everyone can appreciate the need of a nursing mother. At the same time, nursing parents need to appreciate the fact that a request for discretion is not an insult to motherhood but simply a request due to the environment. It was the flight attendant's job to ensure that all passengers were comfortable.
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    I cant believe how much discussion has come about a baby suckin of some ta ta's.
  • jlew24asu wrote:
    I cant believe how much discussion has come about a baby suckin of some ta ta's.

    I know isn't that bullshit? When I try suckin on some juggs on a plane, an air marshall always appears and tazers my ass.
    www.myspace.com/olafvonmastadon
  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    I know isn't that bullshit? When I try suckin on some juggs on a plane, an air marshall always appears and tazers my ass.


    Probably cause you weren't curled up in her lap in a fetal position.
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    puremagic wrote:
    Being that the child is nearly two, it is not dependent solely on breast feeding. I have no doubt, barring any medical or disability issues, she drinks juice and water from either a cup or bottle.

    If the mother was full of attitude and rude, I'm right there with ya. But a baby who needs to nurse and is asking this of the mother may not be easily denied, if it was fussy and tired. Its going to make noise and annoy everyone. And drinking from a cup isn't the same thing. Besides, carrying your own liquid beverages onto a plane is rather iffy these days, and people are at the mercy of what and when the flight attendents bring, so the mother may well have not had access to any other liquid at the time to provide to the baby.

    I do stand by my assertion that people who have not breastfed, or at least been around a family who has breastfed, can't fully understand the needs of a mother and breastfed child, and this is evidenced by the responses I'm reading on this thread.

    There are just so many extenuating circumstances though that we can't really speak for either the mother or the flight attendent, or the other passengers, and we don't know the whole story.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • puremagic wrote:
    Probably cause you weren't curled up in her lap in a fetal position.

    Oh I most certainly was.
    www.myspace.com/olafvonmastadon
  • prismprism Posts: 2,440
    puremagic wrote:
    Being that the child is nearly two, it is not dependent solely on breast feeding. I have no doubt, barring any medical or disability issues, she drinks juice and water from either a cup or bottle. So, for all the reasons you have stated, the mother could have just as easily provided the same simulated nursing relief from flight pressure utilizing a bottle of breast milk, juice or water as they knew that would be flying. The emotional factor of being near the mother was not an issue. As the mother indicated that there were three occupied seats, she had already been holding the child.

    The flight attendant offered her a blanket for privacy, not to stop the breast feeding process. If the blanket was unacceptable, why didn't the parents simply use something they had packed. The parents knew that they nursed this child, they knew they were taking a flight, why didn't they have a towel handy that could have been used? They could have used their jacket or sweater. I don't see where her rights were violated. I would speculate that the reason she was removed from the plane was because she became argumentative and disruptive with her "my legal rights" because I am mother and your not, you know nothing and, see, its just a breast speech and attitude while flashing it as a titty. [Its a titty when there's no baby attached, it doesn't make a difference what it was used for 5 minutes beforehand.]

    Making the point that only parents can understand and appreciate the nursing process is absurd. Everyone can appreciate the need of a nursing mother. At the same time, nursing parents need to appreciate the fact that a request for discretion is not an insult to motherhood but simply a request due to the environment. It was the flight attendant's job to ensure that all passengers were comfortable.

    you must've lost the memo that says that you can't bring drinkable liquids onto an airplane. (if this a small airport there may not be any vendors selling bottled water for $5 a piece beyond the security checkpoint) do you honestly think that security would have let them board with a sippy cup full of juice from home?

    many breastfed babies refuse to drink from a bottle no matter what it contains.

    perhaps she didn't take the offered blanket because it was one of those thick, itchy airline blankets that would be impossible for the child to BREATHE through? I know that i've been on flights that were insanely hot with those individual vent thingies not working either as well might have been the case in this situation
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    angels share laughter
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  • I think it's sad that breasts have been sexualized so much by our society that people are offended to see them used for their *intended* purpose!

    Sorry to disappoint you guys, but they're for babies, not men. :-P
  • V VV V Posts: 5,191
    JaneNY wrote:
    If the mother was full of attitude and rude, I'm right there with ya. But a baby who needs to nurse and is asking this of the mother may not be easily denied, if it was fussy and tired. Its going to make noise and annoy everyone. And drinking from a cup isn't the same thing. Besides, carrying your own liquid beverages onto a plane is rather iffy these days, and people are at the mercy of what and when the flight attendents bring, so the mother may well have not had access to any other liquid at the time to provide to the baby.

    I do stand by my assertion that people who have not breastfed, or at least been around a family who has breastfed, can't fully understand the needs of a mother and breastfed child, and this is evidenced by the responses I'm reading on this thread.

    There are just so many extenuating circumstances though that we can't really speak for either the mother or the flight attendent, or the other passengers, and we don't know the whole story.


    yes exactly and we wont ever really know unless someone was there with a camera , but i will state again that no mother wishes to expose her breasts in public so i am sure it was done as discrately as possible !
    ~~~~~~~~~~ PINK FLUFFY LOVE PSYCHO~~~~~~~~~~
    Astoria,Dublin,Reading 06,Wembley 07,Sheapards Bush & o2 09 thats multiple Jamgasms!
  • i've seen hundreds of moms breastfeed in public, even in public utility vehicles... i guess it's probably how people are used to seeing moms breastfeed in public, because here it's pretty normal
  • I would have refused, even if it holds up the flight. I am not an aggressive person but I just would have refused point blank to uproot me and my family just for discreet breast feeding. The woman was stupid to have yielded to that stupid flight attendant. Think Rosa Parks in this situation!
Sign In or Register to comment.