Tell them not to "get upset" if someone stares while they do it.
I know a guy at the VFW is fascinated by it and watches every time he sees it.
He says the cops have given him a hard time about it.
If it becomes a "right" to do in public, then standing and watching them should be no more offensive than watching someone excersize their "right" to smoke in public.
PUBLIC OPINION > Public Breastfeeding Should Be a Civil Right
SodaHead Living
2012/04/09 13:00:00
In 1999, Congress passed a bill that permitting women to breastfeed on Federal property, and as of 2009, 47 states have laws in place specifically permitting breastfeeding in public. However, despite the government's attitude toward the practice, it has frequently been met with resistance by establishments that are not comfortable with it -- restaurants, airlines, retail outlets. Now a group of Seattle mothers are trying to sponsor a local bill to make public breastfeeding a civil right, placing it in the same category as racial and gender discrimination. We asked the public if that would be a good move.
If Seattle courts are on the same page as the general public, it should be a no-brainer. Most people would like a law in place that makes it impossible for establishments to ask mothers to breastfeed outside or cover up. However, many respondents, even those who voted "Yes," pointed out that it's not difficult to bring a blanket. One commenter wrote, "I understand that it's a natural thing, but women could use some courtesy and put a blanket over said boob."
Conservatives Hesitate
A lot of voters seemed concerned that a woman's right to breastfeed might be compromised if it's not made a civil right, but conservative voters weren't so sure. This is probably because conservatives feel making it a civil right would infringe on an establishment's right to tell a woman to cover up.
Different Without Children
Parents generally voted along with the overall opinion, but among those who didn't have kids, there was a clear division. Respondents who wanted kids eventually were 5% more likely to support public breastfeeding as a civil right, while those who didn't want kids were 11% less likely.
Young People Don't Mind
Believe it or not, the youngest voters were most likely to support making public breastfeeding a civil right -- about 9% more than the overall. It could be that younger people lean left politically, but it's an interesting stat nonetheless.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about public breastfeeding. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Mr Wayne 2012/04/09 13:38:40
If you want to do something publicly you should be ok with people watching.
You feel like whipping out your breast to shut your little bundle of joy up, that's your business. I don't care.
Again, women who breastfeed in public are generally not "embarrassed" to do so. Therefore, there is no need for them to modify their behavior based on your erroneous assertion that they are.
And my "breast" would never shut my little bundle of joy up as I'm a man.
I didn't say they would, should, or could be embarrassed. Just that somebody, somewhere; may stare.
Now let it go, "dude".
Not at all. Do you have memory problems? Because I'm quoting your words about embarrassment here. Again: "If it's private enough to be embarrassed about doing in public, do it in private." Those are your words just 7 posts up from here, are they not?
Well, it seems you've changed your tune. Since you now acknowledge that women breastfeeding in public aren't typically embarrassed about it, then it would logically follow that you don't advocate them doing it in private after all. So we're making progress.
EDIT: Ahhhh, blocking. The tactic of the weak and cowardly. Particularly the reply and block. I hope your mommy puts you down for a nap soon, because you seem a little fussy right now...
I simply figure that points are much better made when they're correctly executed. Evidently, my correction earned me a snide response. Either way, you're welcome. ^_^
If my comments bother you, don't speak to me.
"We live in far more enlightened times here in 2012..."
NOT all of it is true enlightenment, some of it is just people being more selfish.
Should we modify our behaviour based on the ideas of your geriatric idiot family?
It's always great to have an "idiot" Austrialian chiming in on US social mores.
Your profile list you as being in Australia. I made a fault logic leap about your nationality.
"...since your response to anyone you disagree with is to wrap yourself in insults AND the Flag,..." and I suppose you prior comment which contained "your geriatric idiot family?" is your idea of gracious flattery?
The Flag? You mean my opinion that the Westboro Baptist Cult shouldn't be allowed to trample on the rights and feelings of grieving family purely because their son was in the military and the Westboro Baptist Cult has an issue with Gays in the militrary?
How about making love? That should be a civil right to. Let's all make-love in the middle of a restaurant or a park. It's natural and necessary for survival.
The joke is that nobody is telling women they can't breast feed, people are just asking them to be modest about it. Private businesses should be able to dictate what the hell people can or cannot do on their property. This is ridiculous.
I'm not even certain that breastfeeding warrants being defined as a legal "right", but there is an undeniable urgency and necessity to it, which warrants special consideration of some sort.
There is no need to make it a civil right.
What? Ah - I see that you don't have children. Babies need to eat every couple hours for quite a while after they're born. It's unrealistic to expect a mother to be chained to the house or hospital (why should they be in a hospital over a hungry baby by the way?), unable to leave for more than an hour or two at a time for months and months on end. Life goes on and the baby needs to eat regardless, so you do what you have to in order to keep them fed and healthy.
Again, I don't know what that has to do with it being a civil right? Should it be a civil right to bring a baby to the opera and if it's making a disturbance nobody can say anything about it? You're assuming that everyone will be polite and courteous when nobody can say anything to them. My experience has been just the opposite.
And no, I'm not assuming everyone will be polite and courteous. In fact, I'm sad to say that I've come to expect exactly the opposite from most people. I simply WISH they would be...
Are you seriously suggesting it should be? I mean, seriously???