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Subscribe to RSSThe City of Seattle is debating new legislation to protect nursing mothers from being asked to leave public establishments when breastfeeding. Elisa Hahn reports.
The City of Seattle is considering a law that would make breastfeeding a civil right, the SeattlePI.com reported. If passed, it would be illegal to ask a mother to stop breastfeeding, to cover up or move to another location.
The law was introduced by Councilmember Bruce Harrell who argued that breastfeeding could reduce infant mortality rates among minorities. In Seattle, American Indian and African Americans have infant mortality rates two times higher than other groups.
"If we change cultural norms, that people realize it's important to have a healthy Seattle, that people will breastfeed in public areas, it begins the conversation as to why," Harrell said, according to KING 5 TV.
Following a city council discussion about the measure Wednesday afternoon, a dozen mothers gathered for a “feed-in,” according to KING 5.
A similar law has been in effect in Washington State since 2009, but breastfeeding advocates say that a local law would bolster its power, the SeattlePI.com reported.
Since the state law was passed, three mothers have filed complaints with the state’s Human Rights Commission, according to the P-I. One woman was asked to leave a physical therapist’s waiting room, another was told to stop breastfeeding at a Head Start facility, and the third was breastfeeding at the Sol Duc Hot Springs.
Other states, too, have given nursing women specific protections. In New York, infants may accompany their mothers to prison if their mothers are nursing them when she is committed. Nursing mothers in Virginia may breastfeed on any land or property owned by the state. And in Maryland, equipment for breastfeeding is exempt from sales tax.
Exclusive breastfeeding may be too hard, study finds
The laws are part of a national effort to encourage women to nurse their children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about three-quarters of women start breastfeeding after birth, but fewer than 15 percent of those mothers continue to breastfeed exclusively six months later. The Healthy People 2020 initiative aims to increase the percentage of nursing mothers to 81.9 percent by 2020.
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Anyone ever heard of Natural Selection, or maybe the Strong survive--I don't think you can vote this in..
y personal pinion on this is that breastfeeding s a private matter/thing. It shouldn't one a public display for everyone to see or witness.
If you need to feed your kids while out in public, use breast pumps and feed them before you leave your home.
If breastfeeding is ok in public, then some men might think it's ok for masturbating in public (since they consider that a natural thing to do) and that is something I do not want to see or witness.
Then you have to think about all the purvs out in public. You keep flashing and get attacked, then you want to blame the purv. Why blame the purv when you give them what they want by displaying yourself to them.
Feed your kids at home and use a breast pump to feed them for when you are out in public.
Problem solved.
jussayin-
Arieus, you are what is wrong here, and one reason why laws like this need to be enacted.
People ogle breasts on tv and many other places, yet when a mom has to feed her kid, she has to put up with people like you. That is horrible.
And breastfeeding is NOT the reason why women get attacked. Do I even have to say that breastfeeding is NOT the same as masturbation?
Breastfeeding is a right, and must be clearly so in law. If you can't deal with it, then stay home.
You should be ashamed of yourself
Hello, you're absolutely right on a lot of points, but you have to realize that in American culture (and several other cultures), men enjoy looking at breasts. In the event that a woman chooses to breastfeed in public guys are going to look. It's not an exact comparison, but a woman wearing a low cut top is similar in that she is choosing to expose a significant portion of something that guys like to look at. Yes there is a biological need for what she is doing, but she is still choosing to do it in a public venue.
Public breastfeeding is legal, so is my enjoyment of people watching in public areas, including but not limited to looking at girls, whatever they may be wearing/doing (not saying I'd stare at something like this, but I have the right to). If a girl is uncomfortable being looked at while doing this, stay home. If I'm uncomfortable looking at it, I'll walk away.
Arieus- I totally agree. If a Woman chooses to breast feed her child she should be able to find a way to do it in a private place. Though it is natural, it is clearly still exposing a private part of the body, and in the US today it is not acceptable to do so at all.
The same argument could be made of a man peeing in public or a couple engaging in intercourse in the park. It is a natural thing, everyone does it. however these are crimes you can get serious offenses for, like being made into a sexual predator because you had to take a piss or the moment was right. In no way is it acceptable to perform any "natural" human function in public that exposes private body parts. Period.
Sorry moms, I am all for breastfeeding, but i don't wanna see ur titties while im out on a walk with my husband
This is just another example of people thinking that their way of doing this is more "right" than another's. Its a matter of respect: currently, the only time you are going to be stopped from breastfeeding is if someone asks you to (most likely because they are uncomfortable with it, NOT because they are trying to take away your right to nourish your child). So basically, this law is making it so that those people who are uncomfortable with it have no say in the matter--which I think is also unfair.
I am not a "prude" and I am not a "bible thumper"--I just happen to think that certain things should be done privately.
In addition, I think the guy with the masturbation comment has a point. While we're at it, why don't I just take a piss whereever I want, whenever I want. Thats natural, right? And everybody pees...NOT everyone has kids.
Gurl - It may not be socially acceptable, but it is legally acceptable. Your remark about public urination and public intercourse doesn't make sense because those things have laws against them whereas this has laws in support of it. If you don't like it, vote to have the law changed.
Tiger - Excluding your legality arguments which I addressed above, by your logic, I should be able to take my young children to a public beach, then tell someone that their swimsuit is too revealing and it's making me uncomfortable, and force them to cover up. It's a public area, if you're within the law, there's not much anyone, including the police can do to stop you. If you're uncomfortable with a legal situation happening in a public venue, leave.
Again, I'm not especially in support of the practice, but I am in support of the law. As a voting citizen, I have every right to petition my representatives and invoke the initiative process to try to change the laws to suit my preference, but I do not have the right to tell someone not to do something in public that is completely legal.
Hellohowareyou
Just because I express my opinion, it doesn't make me wrong, just as your comment may not be right to some.
My personal opinion is that breastfeeding is a personal thing between the mother and child. Not meant for public display.
That's my opinion, regardless if you agree or disagree with me.
<thumbs-up>
Boobs on TV, the internet, the beaches, magazines, billboards, everywhere. God forbid that women should be able to use them for what they were meant for. Every other animal breast feeds, so why not humans? It's free and it's the best thing a baby can have in more ways than one. I'm a guy. All of my kids were breast fed. So don't worry fellas, the baby doesn't block the view for very long. I can never believe that this is even an arguement. We make laws so women can breast feed. Really?
To me, breastfeeding is beautiful, and totally non-sexual. I have never seen any woman who was not very discreet. I hope this law passes.
Breast feeding is the original and, (usually), still the best nutrition for an infant. Women should not let the opinion of misguided prudes stop them from doing what is best for their child.
I know I was breast feed when I was an infant, because my mother told me so. I do not have any infants, (thank goodness, I'm not ready for that) but when I do, I will breast feed my child, and I won't care where I am at.
The only people who are offended by that natural act is prudes, some men, and the bible thurmpers. Ever wonder why that is? I do wonder about that, as breast feeding is as old as the humans are. Breast feeding gives the infant the immunities from diease that the mother have.
And why any man would be upset is beyond my understanding. All of my girl friends and me always talk about how the first thing men look at is the breast work of what we women have. Hey, to put it simple, those tits are used for more than just looks. We women have breast feed a lot of you men. Guess that is why you men have such a fixation on breasts, right?
As a guy I can say that, yes the female body can be very beautiful. That is a good thing. But believe it or not, we do not mindlessly get fixated on every breast that we see. Real men have enough respect for their wives or girlfriends to put natural instincts in check. And believe it or not, seeing a woman breastfeeding in public is not the same thing as a nice looking woman topless on the beach. The mom is just feeding her kid. We really do understand that and are not generally lewd enough to either be sexually attracted to that, or think anything more than have respect for the work she is doing in raising her kid.
Believe it or not, we have moms, too. We can be attracted to women physically, but moms are sacred. You don't mess with that. Why would you even want to? Real men love women physically and emotionally. One cannot get in the way of another. We are not mindless.
I personally applaud women who breastfeed in public because they hopefully are helping to change society into a place where kids are more welcome, and where women do not get penalized for feeding their kids. I love breasts, but in this case, they are not attractive. They are just a really good way of showing kindness and love to your kid, while giving them the best nourishment available. There is nothing wrong with that.
Darthdon
True, unless the mother is a junkie/crack addict/alcoholic/smoker.
okay the problem is there are perverts out there who are going to sit and stare and even take pics. and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it since you bared your breast. it's dangerous and some women night be stalked and even killed. you take your life into your hands. I dont mind if the breastfeed in public but cover it up.
As I stated at #8, I believe breast feeding is a human right. But no-one can argue Tinas' case in reference to the perverts. Especially considering the fact that everyone is carrying a camera and they all want their crap on facebook or youtube. That is something the individual woman would have to take into consideration.
Breastfeeding mothers don't bear their breasts in public. What are you talking about?
Tina, you are certifiably insane. Please get help. It's not dangerous to breast feed your baby. It's healthy & natural. Stop being such a basket case. Get out in the world and see that most people don't have a problem w/it. If by chance a woman were to be harrassed, photographed, ogled, etc. she should call the authorities or hopefully her husband would be able to take care of the pervert. I guess you're one of those women that like being sheltered and told what you can & can't do. I feel sorry for you. I'm doing what ever I want, when ever I want, where ever I want. And no one is telling me different.
Tina is a bit far fetched however, thinking women do not bare their breasts when breast feeding is a wishful thought. Most sensible women don't however lately it seems like common sense has flown the coop. The women I have seen are darn near undressing! They see nothing wrong with completely unbuttoning their whole top and letting everything flash and that is before they even get the baby out of the carrier. Also, I don't know about others but I do have a problem with a two or three year old who comes up to mommy and asks for a titty or boobie for a drink! And yes, there are more of them than you can imagine. If you are giving your kid a Happy Meal, he or she does not need breast milk!
njcny, it is women like you with your attitude that cause a lot of the problems. It is not all about you. You cannot do whatever YOU want, where YOU want and when YOU want. And expecting YOUR husband to bully everyone else just so YOU can do it is a great deal of what is wrong with today's people. In case you forgot, it really isn't all about YOU! There is such a thing as learning to breastfeed with decorum. You don't have to flash everything to prove to the world you are some type of super mom. Not everyone wants to watch you breastfeed. Of course it is natural, so is procreation but that doesn't mean everyone wants to watch you do that too!
Meezermom59- YES!! Well said
Tina, that is completely ludicrous.
only in america would we have to pass laws to make it legal for a woman to feed her child in public.
when it's already legal...
LOL.
Yeah, I thought about having a kid but then I remembered that there are all those pervs out there and I just couldn't the risk that one of them would get hold of my kid and do something bad...I suppose I could always keep the kid in covered cage when in public until they're old enough to carry a gun.
Breast feeding is not a civil right. It is a human right. After all, we are mammals. If you're such a prude, look the other way.
Utterly ludicrous that the theocracy has such a stranglehold over issues such as this that such a measure even needs consideration.
Damn straight, free the boobies!
@ everyone else, its not that they are making laws so people CAN breastfeed, its making laws to make it illegal to tell them they can't, anywhere they want to do it. As it is now, if you do it in a private establishment they can ask you to move/stop/leave. The same goes for public places such as museums and the like (of course, the places frequented by the prudes).
I stand behind any woman who wants to breast feed! (usually over the right shoulder)
I'm all for this law too. How can anyone be more offended by someone breastfeeding - something that pretty much defines "mamal" - than most of what you see on TV / movies. My only question about this particular law is whether or not it will allow people other than children to breastfeed in public. I'd like to move to Seattle and that might just seal the deal.
A culture surrounding breast feeding would improve health of children. There are so many benefits.
The problem is that Americans have a seriously warped concept of the human body and its functions, especially breasts.
The primary purpose of the female breast is to provide the perfect food for human infants, not to be implanted to an outlandish size and shape with foreign objects and ogled by leering perverts.
It's a sad state of affairs when the most natural, healthful, and convenient way to feed an infant is viewed as something shameful in this society.
If anyone told me where I could and could not feed my hungry child, I'd have no problem loudly telling them exactly where to shove it.
Does that include men?
If motherhood is civil rights issue, what shall be make of apple pie?
Yes the men are the problem often the reason is that they were never properly weened.
While I agree that breast feeding is natural, some take it to extremes.
I have no problem with a mother, using discretion, breast feeds in public. I do draw the line at the mothers that think it completely appropriate to continue breast feeding a child once beyond the six to eight month range. I have actually witnessed women breast feeding children that were five or six years old. (A mother "feeding" her first grade son, my grandsons classmate, on the bench in front of the school.)
With everything, there are limits, and those limits are either self imposed or imposed by society at large. Those who have the belief that "I will do what I please, whether it is offensive to you or not" are the ones who make it difficult for everyone.
The extreme public breast feeding on children older than 2 is objectionable. I wonder if the ordiance specifies infants. I object more to the unsanitary habits of changing diapers in public like a resturant.
"...it would be illegal to ask a mother to stop breastfeeding..."
Seriously?! Illegal to ask? Are you frippin' kidding me? What about freedom of speech? What about a civil society? You should be free to ask, she should be free to say "yes" or "no." Anyone remember when people actually grew up to be adults? Does a free people really need a law like this? Unbelievable. Amazing. Sad... Really? Seriously?