Yet Another Breastfeeder Banished
In this incident (one of about a bajillion) a woman was nursing her five-year-old in a Houston’s restaurant in Florida when management told her to take her mammaries elsewhere. She slunk out to the car, fed baby, and returned when she was done. Later she learned that the restaurant had violated her rights, because in Florida, women have a right to nurse wherever they damn well please. “I’m humiliated,” said the poor mom. “I really am. I am in shock.”
Personally, I never would have been able to eat half a meal in a restaurant if I couldn’t nurse my baby quietly. But we don’t really have to spend a long time defending nursing here. I get that breasts are fetishized in our culture and some folks can’t get over the dual nature of boobies. Here’s the part that confuses me whenever this happens: don’t people want to see naked breasts? Judging by the spam I get, lots must. There’s whole magazines and movies devoted to breasts. This guy made a living by getting women to flash some nipple.
So here’s my new strategy for lactating moms: whenever you have to nurse baby in public, just fling some Mardi Gras beads at the spectators and go about your business.
Update: That was sooo my bad. Yes, I meant five-month-old. But, um, I did it on purpose, to, um, generate an interesting discussion on the appropriateness of breastfeeding older kids… Yeah, that’s it…
Maybe I’ve been lucky or inconspicuous, but just on my recent trip to New York alone I can chalk up 2 Midwest Express flights, a PATH train, the American Museum of Natural History, the Bronx Zoo, and a nice Manhattan restaurant to my list of places I’ve ended up breastfeeding in public, and I’ve never been confronted about it. I’ve had to nurse my babies in enough places that I feel like a page out of Green Eggs and Ham (In a box and with some socks and on a train and in the rain…), and never a problem.
I’m hoping these prudish attacks are the exception rather than the rule and that’s why they get attention.
People DO want to see naked boobies. Just not with a baby attached to them. Because, you know, that’s just gross.
Whew! I envisioned my 5-year old daughter nursing at a restaurant and thought “Um NO!” And yes I’m being judgemental and no I don’t care. (Dang, where’s my coffee?)
But as for the general issue of BF in public I just don’t understand the objections. I mean as kids we quickly thumbed thru the National Geographic to find the native ladies’ argument for bras. (Dang, where IS that coming from today?) We have a restaurant chain entirely devoted to human breasts and chicken wings. We travel to distant shores to get some sun on the girls. (Well, my wife does… I just go along to apply the sunscreen.)
My only complaint is that the baby’s head is in the way. Or, at least that’s what I’d say if I were a boorish man. Which I am definitely not. Ok maybe I am today but not usually.
Lactation Emancipation Now!!!!!
Starbuck’s anyone?
Awesome post, Evan!
I saw this article and a picture of mom and baby, it was a five month old (or a super tiny 5 year old who saved the parent’s a ton of money by not needing new clothes).
I worked for Houston’s for two years (wife Andrea posted above), people should call the restaurant and complain. This manager will be fired if George Biel (president) were to catch wind of this.
The GM of this restaurant is Lora Menter
561 998 0550
I intend to call and complain b/c Houston’s is one of my favorite restaurants and I will NEVER return there if corporate stands for managers discriminating against mothers.
At what point exactly does a child become too old to nurse in public? Is eighteen months too old? Two years?
I mean, everybody who posted seems to be okay with the idea of a five month old nursing but not a five year old. My personal thought is that a five year old has the wherewithal to wait until he gets home if he wants to nurse. But I certainly wouldn’t pull out any of these “if he can ask for it he’s too blah, blah, blah” old saws. I weaned my twins at fourteen months, so I’m no toddler nursing lactivist. But I would never presume to tell somebody else when enough is enough.
RE: don’t people want to see naked breasts?
Probably…but some folks are too puritanical/self-righteous to admit it or condone it happening around them (even if it’s just in the lunchy-variety of exposure and not the Mardi Gras variety…)
I am open-minded and accepting of many, many attitudes, but I can’t wrap my brain around a person walking up to a woman nursing a baby and saying, “Ma’am, your behavior is offensive. Please leave.”
OK, so since I’m too lazy (and presumably many others are too) to click through to the original article, maybe Kelly should correct her blog post to read five-month-old.
My husband used to work for Houston’s, and he has assured me that George Biel (President of Houston’s) would never stand for that. EVER. He has a big policy of not discriminating, especially to moms. You can be almost certain that someone was fired over this.
I also have to agree with the prior post. I’m all for 5 year old breastfeeding- in third world countries.
This article does state 5 month old, not 5 year old! – http://www.nbc6.net/news/13126240/detail.html
Er, was it really a five-year-old? When the child is old enough to read the menu and order her own dinner, it’s time to stop breastfeeding. I hope you meant to say five-month-old.