"Breastfeeding Moms Protest H&M"
haffajappa
British Columbia Posts: 5,955
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=68784b18-c163-4528-84db-c26e2bc47e30
Breastfeeding moms protest H&M
Sit-in ensues after woman asked to nurse child in change room
Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, August 08, 2008
VANCOUVER - Scores of breastfeeding mothers crowded into the downtown H&M clothing store Thursday afternoon to protest the way another woman was treated when she tried to feed her baby in public.
At least 60 women sat cross-legged on the floor, milled about the store feeding their babies or spilled out into Pacific Centre Mall in support of Manuela Valle, who was told by store staff on Tuesday to go into the change room to feed her two-month-old daughter Ramona.
Others stood outside the storefront on Granville Street, carrying signs that read: "Get a room? Human rights mockery," and "Babies for Breastfeeding."
Breastfeeding mothers demonstrate at the H&M clothing store on Granville Street Thursday afternoon.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Breastfeeding mothers demonstrate at the H&M clothing store on Granville Street Thursday afternoon.
"This is normal; it's not shameful. It is everyone's need to to have food and be nourished and nurtured," Veronika Pollanska told the crowd as she fed her five-month-old son. "This is for all businesses including airlines, clothing stores, pools and restaurants."
Laura Shankland, a representative of H&M in Toronto, said the store has a policy that allows women to breastfeed freely in public.
The incident with Valle, she said, has prompted the store to start an education campaign to ensure its staff is aware of the policy and that such problems don't arise again.
"We're very sorry for that occurrence and we're investigating it," Shankland said. "We're sorry that a woman in our store was made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable."
Other women said they have experienced similar problems in various locations.
Siobhan Sestak of Delta, who came out to show her support, said she ran into problems when she was feeding her four-month-old son Declan in Liquidation World three weeks ago.
She said she was told it was illegal for her to breastfeed while sitting on the store's furniture.
"[A staff member] said, 'Nobody wants to buy furniture when they see you feeding on it so you [must] leave,'" Sestak said, adding her son was covered by a sheet.
"It made me feel bad to be ganged up on like that. It's something you can't help. When you're out and about, you have to feed your baby."
Many mothers said it is shocking that companies can post ads portraying near-naked women, yet moms are vilified for breast-feeding in public.
"You wonder what's going on in our culture when a company can put up a billboard with a teenager scantily clad but a mother feeding her baby is offending someone," said Mel Carson, who was feeding her six-month-old son Carson Lee. "I can't wrap my head around that."
Sarah Douchette, of Vancouver, said she was pleased to see so many moms support Valle, but shocked that a breastfeed-in was needed. As she joined the group, she said, one man told her "you should be ashamed of yourself."
"It's a real shock that people still have that attitude," she said. "It's more rare to see a breastfeeding mother than a breast in a magazine or on TV."
Astrid Lalonde, who has a six-week-old baby, said there is nothing sexual about breastfeeding and if people don't like it, they should avert their eyes. "This is about me feeding my baby. If you find it uncomfortable, look away."
Okay, before I say anything, I work at a store, in a baby department, and have no problem with people breast feeding there. Usually if they are, I'll politely go up to the mom and say something like "if you're more comfortable, there are changing rooms in the corner. Feel free to use them if you'd like" Usually they'll politely accept or decline and I'm impartial either way.
While I agree that people should just look away if they're uncomfortable, I think the whole protest is just an attention thing. Honestly, they're are genocides going on in the world, people with real human rights issues, and you're protesting at H&M because someone asked you to go in the fitting room? Give me a break. She's suing H&M last I heard.
Like I said, I don't get why people get so offended by a breast, or a mother breast feeding (It was other customers who told the employee to ask the lady to move). However, I think this thing was blown out of proportion.
Breastfeeding moms protest H&M
Sit-in ensues after woman asked to nurse child in change room
Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, August 08, 2008
VANCOUVER - Scores of breastfeeding mothers crowded into the downtown H&M clothing store Thursday afternoon to protest the way another woman was treated when she tried to feed her baby in public.
At least 60 women sat cross-legged on the floor, milled about the store feeding their babies or spilled out into Pacific Centre Mall in support of Manuela Valle, who was told by store staff on Tuesday to go into the change room to feed her two-month-old daughter Ramona.
Others stood outside the storefront on Granville Street, carrying signs that read: "Get a room? Human rights mockery," and "Babies for Breastfeeding."
Breastfeeding mothers demonstrate at the H&M clothing store on Granville Street Thursday afternoon.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Breastfeeding mothers demonstrate at the H&M clothing store on Granville Street Thursday afternoon.
"This is normal; it's not shameful. It is everyone's need to to have food and be nourished and nurtured," Veronika Pollanska told the crowd as she fed her five-month-old son. "This is for all businesses including airlines, clothing stores, pools and restaurants."
Laura Shankland, a representative of H&M in Toronto, said the store has a policy that allows women to breastfeed freely in public.
The incident with Valle, she said, has prompted the store to start an education campaign to ensure its staff is aware of the policy and that such problems don't arise again.
"We're very sorry for that occurrence and we're investigating it," Shankland said. "We're sorry that a woman in our store was made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable."
Other women said they have experienced similar problems in various locations.
Siobhan Sestak of Delta, who came out to show her support, said she ran into problems when she was feeding her four-month-old son Declan in Liquidation World three weeks ago.
She said she was told it was illegal for her to breastfeed while sitting on the store's furniture.
"[A staff member] said, 'Nobody wants to buy furniture when they see you feeding on it so you [must] leave,'" Sestak said, adding her son was covered by a sheet.
"It made me feel bad to be ganged up on like that. It's something you can't help. When you're out and about, you have to feed your baby."
Many mothers said it is shocking that companies can post ads portraying near-naked women, yet moms are vilified for breast-feeding in public.
"You wonder what's going on in our culture when a company can put up a billboard with a teenager scantily clad but a mother feeding her baby is offending someone," said Mel Carson, who was feeding her six-month-old son Carson Lee. "I can't wrap my head around that."
Sarah Douchette, of Vancouver, said she was pleased to see so many moms support Valle, but shocked that a breastfeed-in was needed. As she joined the group, she said, one man told her "you should be ashamed of yourself."
"It's a real shock that people still have that attitude," she said. "It's more rare to see a breastfeeding mother than a breast in a magazine or on TV."
Astrid Lalonde, who has a six-week-old baby, said there is nothing sexual about breastfeeding and if people don't like it, they should avert their eyes. "This is about me feeding my baby. If you find it uncomfortable, look away."
Okay, before I say anything, I work at a store, in a baby department, and have no problem with people breast feeding there. Usually if they are, I'll politely go up to the mom and say something like "if you're more comfortable, there are changing rooms in the corner. Feel free to use them if you'd like" Usually they'll politely accept or decline and I'm impartial either way.
While I agree that people should just look away if they're uncomfortable, I think the whole protest is just an attention thing. Honestly, they're are genocides going on in the world, people with real human rights issues, and you're protesting at H&M because someone asked you to go in the fitting room? Give me a break. She's suing H&M last I heard.
Like I said, I don't get why people get so offended by a breast, or a mother breast feeding (It was other customers who told the employee to ask the lady to move). However, I think this thing was blown out of proportion.
live pearl jam is best pearl jam
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Comments
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I agree. Staging a protest is blowing it out of proportion. If someone told me to stop breastfeeding, I'd tell them to go fuck themselves, keep doing it and inform them that it's my right to breastfeed whenever and wherever I want. That's all that needs to be done. Eventually, people will get over it. That's what boobs are for.0
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its just a little titty, last i checked a little titty never killed no one.{if (work != 0) {
work = work + 1;
sleep = sleep - work * 10;}
else if (work >= 0) {
reality.equals(false);
work = work +1;
}system("pause");
return 0;}0 -
Unless someone's boob was hanging out, and some guy couldnt stop staring at it, wasnt watching where he was going and then got hit by the car.EquallyWorthless wrote:its just a little titty, last i checked a little titty never killed no one.
In which case, who do we sue? The driver, or the titty?live pearl jam is best pearl jam0 -
I understand that breatfeeding is a completely normal and natural thing, but I (as a female) CANNOT imagine baring my breast in public, whether I need to feed my child or not.deep, deep blue of the morning
gets to me every time0 -
you people should all know by now the only acceptable boob 'displayed' in public is when its attached to a hot chica wearing not much more than she was born in. :rolleyes:hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
I absolutely understand the need to give a child food when it's needed, but I really can not stand some of the women groups you see on tv defending their right to breast feed, they totally creep me out (I'm talking about the attachment parenting types). I also see nothing wrong with being subtle in these situations and of course women can put breast milk in bottles. Have these women never heard of planning?! It's like, 'shit I'm in H&M buying some crap and my child all of a sudden needs feeding' - do you not know your baby's schedule?!0
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facepollution wrote:I absolutely understand the need to give a child food when it's needed, but I really can not stand some of the women groups you see on tv defending their right to breast feed, they totally creep me out (I'm talking about the attachment parenting types). I also see nothing wrong with being subtle in these situations and of course women can put breast milk in bottles. Have these women never heard of planning?! It's like, 'shit I'm in H&M buying some crap and my child all of a sudden needs feeding' - do you not know your baby's schedule?!
Well, first of all babies -- especially very young ones -- don't always have schedules. Yes, you can put breast milk in bottles, but you don't always have that much control over your milk supply vs. when the baby is going to temporarily tap you out.
But more importantly, why should a woman have to take the time to pump milk into a bottle when she has a breast with a nipple with her at all times? If you're out, and the baby needs to eat...you feed the baby. What's wrong with that?0 -
Lukin66 wrote:I understand that breatfeeding is a completely normal and natural thing, but I (as a female) CANNOT imagine baring my breast in public, whether I need to feed my child or not.
It's surprising how little that modesty creeps up when it comes time to feed your baby. I felt the same way as you...and then within hours of my baby's birth, my entire family as well as a huge portion of the nursing staff of the hospital where I gave birth had seen my breasts....lol. In that moment, you're much more concerned with getting the screaming newborn to stop screaming than you are of someone seeing your nipple.
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Brain of J.Lo wrote:Well, first of all babies -- especially very young ones -- don't always have schedules. Yes, you can put breast milk in bottles, but you don't always have that much control over your milk supply vs. when the baby is going to temporarily tap you out.
But more importantly, why should a woman have to take the time to pump milk into a bottle when she has a breast with a nipple with her at all times? If you're out, and the baby needs to eat...you feed the baby. What's wrong with that?
Well a baby doesn't have a feeding schedule if you don't give it one. If your baby is that young that their feeding habits are all over the place, I would have thought shopping would have been the last thought on your mind! Have a back up supply for when you are out if need be, or maybe find a slightly less obvious place than a clothing store to feed your child - hell go in the changing rooms.
Just to clarify, I couldn't care less if a woman wants to get her breast out in public, it's the over zealous 'I have a right' to be able to feed anywhere that baffles me - I genuinely don't see why it is a problem for a woman to plan for such an event as feeding her child.0 -
facepollution wrote:Well a baby doesn't have a feeding schedule if you don't give it one. If your baby is that young that their feeding habits are all over the place, I would have thought shopping would have been the last thought on your mind! Have a back up supply for when you are out if need be, or maybe find a slightly less obvious place than a clothing store to feed your child - hell go in the changing rooms.
Just to clarify, I couldn't care less if a woman wants to get her breast out in public, it's the over zealous 'I have a right' to be able to feed anywhere that baffles me - I genuinely don't see why it is a problem for a woman to plan for such an event as feeding her child.
a change room? have you ever tried to breastfeed a baby in a change room?
oh and ill leave the house no matter how old my baby is. im not a god damn prisoner just cause ive given birth to a child.hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
facepollution wrote:Well a baby doesn't have a feeding schedule if you don't give it one. If your baby is that young that their feeding habits are all over the place, I would have thought shopping would have been the last thought on your mind! Have a back up supply for when you are out if need be, or maybe find a slightly less obvious place than a clothing store to feed your child - hell go in the changing rooms.
how many children do you have?0 -
cutback wrote:how many children do you have?
None. But, my sister has two kids and my mother has been a child-minder for the best part of 20 years, looking after children as young as 3 months - I've been around kids my entire life, I know exactly how difficult it can be.
What about women who can't breast feed? Some women are unable to, their kids manage on bottles etc.
In all honesty how often do people go clothes shopping? Would it not be acceptable to make special arrangements for a one off trip like that?
Catefrances, you implied breastfeeding would be more of a problem in a changing room, as opposed to in the middle of a clothing store with a load of strangers staring at you? Nobody said you were a prisoner, but surely feeding times would be planned for? Maybe you would at least find somewhere to sit like a food court or something?!0 -
facepollution wrote:None. But, my sister has two kids and my mother has been a child-minder for the best part of 20 years, looking after children as young as 3 months - I've been around kids my entire life, I know exactly how difficult it can be.
What about women who can't breast feed? Some women are unable to, their kids manage on bottles etc.
In all honesty how often do people go clothes shopping? Would it not be acceptable to make special arrangements for a one off trip like that?
Catefrances, you implied breastfeeding would be more of a problem in a changing room, as opposed to in the middle of a clothing store with a load of strangers staring at you? Nobody said you were a prisoner, but surely feeding times would be planned for? Maybe you would at least find somewhere to sit like a food court or something?!
yes of course it can be more difficult. you have availed yourself of change room facilites at some point in your life, yes? do you believe they are suitable to feed a baby in? change rooms are not built with breastfeeding in mind therefore they are inadequate for that purpose. i am not responsible for the awkwardness people feel when they see a mother breatfeeding her child in public. and they certainly dont have to stare at her.
and surely you understand that even tiny babies have minds of their own. the planning i do is that my breast will be available when ever and wherever my baby needs it. that why i breastfed in the first place.hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
my point wasnt they shouldnt be allowed to do it in public, like i said lots of people do it in the store (except i dont like it when i find milk and puke on products cos people arent friggin careful!!)
my point was that everyone protesting might have better things to protest than a human rights violation of breast feeding in public...live pearl jam is best pearl jam0 -
facepollution wrote:In all honesty how often do people go clothes shopping? Would it not be acceptable to make special arrangements for a one off trip like that?
special arrangements?? such as??hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
Lukin66 wrote:I understand that breatfeeding is a completely normal and natural thing, but I (as a female) CANNOT imagine baring my breast in public, whether I need to feed my child or not.
Actually, when breastfeeding you do not have to bare your breast. First of all the baby's head pretty much covers it up, and if you have the shirt up above the baby's head, the shirt, together with the baby's body, pretty much covers everything up. If that isn't enough, there are companies that make breastfeeding clothes, and you can even get patterns for breastfeeding clothes to make yourself. I availed myself of all of these when I breastfed my kids. People make the whole breastfeeding thing more of an issue than it should be. Its just a way to feed kids, and its easy. You don't have to worry about the sanitation of bottles the way you would even if you were to pump milk into a bottle.
Check out Motherwear with all the nursing outfits.
http://www.motherwear.com/cat.cfm/cid/12/pg/1
Some of the models are breastfeeding their babies. Oooh racy.R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 20080 -
ewww....And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
"What a stupid lamb."
"What a sick, masochistic lion."0 -
in_hiding79 wrote:ewww....
how mature pam. :rolleyes:hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
I'm fine with woman breastfeeding in public - just don;t turn around and bitch about the bikini and pasty-clad baristas!!!
I swear to god it is the same woman who were letting their tits fly in the wind at Wright Park the other day (having a breast feeding party at a park) who are the same prudes who are all up-in-arms over some scantily-clad baristas at some local coffee stands.0 -
catefrances wrote:how mature pam. :rolleyes:
Thanks, I thought so!!
aNiMaL wrote:I'm fine with woman breastfeeding in public - just don;t turn around and bitch about the bikini and pasty-clad baristas!!!
I swear to god it is the same woman who were letting their tits fly in the wind at Wright Park the other day (having a breast feeding party at a park) who are the same prudes who are all up-in-arms over some scantily-clad baristas at some local coffee stands.
This might be true!!And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
"What a stupid lamb."
"What a sick, masochistic lion."0
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