Breastfeeding ‘Nurse-In’ at Target; NASCAR Driver Takes Heat
Breastfeeding moms protests woman’s treatment at Target while discreetly nursing her baby. Have you ever been “bullied” or disparaged while nursing your child in public? Do you feel it’s OK for moms to breastfeed anywhere in stores, or should stores provide more private rooms or locations for nursing moms?
A breastfeeding mom’s right to nurse is taking center stage once again.
More than 250 protests took place at Target stores across the country Wednesday as mothers held “nurse-ins” to assert their right to breastfeed their children in public. The protests came after one Houston-area mother, Michelle Hickman, said she was asked repeatedly on Nov. 29 to relocate to a fitting room after she sat on the floor in the women’s clothing department to discreetly nurse her 5-month-old son, who was covered by a blanket. Hickman, who organized a Facebook campaign to encouraged the “nurse-in,” says she was approached by two female employees who asked her to move to a fitting room. Hickman said one of the employees allegedly commented “you can get a ticket and be reported for indecent exposure.”
Related: Breastfeeding and Formula Can Go Hand-in-Hand, Guilt Free
“It’s not about bullying people or other people and their choices,” Hickman told MyFOX Houston. “It’s about supporting people and their choices. It’s a legal right, and it’s my choice to do it that way, and because it’s my legal right I shouldn’t be bullied.”
“Target has along standing policy to embrace breastfeeding and to make our guests feel as comfortable as possible while doing so,” said a Target representative.
Read Laurie Puhn’s Top 5 Rude Comments Pregnant Women Hear
In June, genConnect reported a story which centered on a 32-year-old mom who says she was kicked off a Michigan bus after discreetly breastfeeding her infant on the bus. We asked genConnect readers whether we need stronger laws in the U.S. protecting nursing mothers – and many of you think we do! Of the 1,768 of you who took the poll, 77 percent said “yes, nursing moms need more protection,” while 20 percent said “no, the laws we have are good enough.” Three percent said “I’m not sure.”
Meanwhile, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne apologized for commenting on a breastfeeding mom on Twitter this week.
“Just walking through supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn’t!” Kahne wrote, then added: “I don’t feel like shopping anymore or eating.”
Kasey Kahne
Although Kahne took some heat for his Tweets, he also received a lot of support from people – even breastfeeding moms – who said women don’t have to flaunt their breastfeeding in public; rather, there are many ways to be discreet about it. Kahne then wrote this on his Facebook page:
“I understand that my comments regarding breastfeeding posted on Twitter were offensive to some people. For that, I apologize. It was in no way my intention to offend any mother who chooses to breastfeed her child, or, for that matter, anyone who supports breast feeding children. I want to make that clear. In all honestly, I was surprised by what I saw in a grocery store. I shared that reaction with my fans on Twitter. It obviously wasn’t the correct approach, and, after reading your feedback, I now have a better understanding of why my posts upset some of you. My comments were not directed at the mother’s right to breastfeed. They were just a reaction to the location of that choice, and the fashion in which it was executed on that occasion. I respect the mother’s right to feed her child whenever and wherever she pleases.”
Tell us: What do you think about moms staging a “nurse-in” at Target stores across the country? Have you ever been “bullied” or disparaged while nursing your child in public? Do you feel it’s OK for moms to breastfeed anywhere in stores, or should stores provide more private rooms or locations for nursing moms?
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Category: Views on the News
I don't have a problem with mothers breastfeeding in public. I do think they should use some common sense and exhibit some signs of modesty. Don't flaunt it because that just begs for attention. As for stores providing private rooms; most stores are cramped for space already and to ask them to do this for one small percentage of people is asking too much. Who will they have to accomodate next?
BREASTFEEDING IS A NATURAL ACT AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED WITH MODISTY.PROVIDE AN AREA NORMALY OUT OF SIGHT OR A NURSING ROOM.MAYBE IF WE WENT BACK SEVERAL GENERATIONS BEFORE BOTTLES OUR BABIES WOULD BE HEALTHER AND SURLY HAVE AN INTERMENT MOMENT WITH IT'S BIRTH MOTHER, JUST AS ANY OTHER ANIMAL WOULD DO.
One of the great things of about breastfeeding is that you don't have to wait for a bottle to heat or fix a bottle it is always ready when the baby is ready!! It also makes it easier when you are out in public to feed!!! i think women should cover there-selves when breastfeeding in public (I DO) but I don't know one to tell me I can't feed my baby when he is hungry! SOME people where clothes that show more than A mother breastfeeding her baby
I had rather see a mother breast-feed her baby than hear a screaming baby. The breast is for feeding babies. As you said, some women hang it all out to attract attention, so what is the problem with a mother feeding her infant!!! This is a screwed-up world.
The prolem is really on the people/passer-by who see this and are not comfortable with this. There is a time and place for everything and definitely not on the sales floor, not in retail places, benches in malls etc., and even if you think you are quitely/covered doing this. We have to be concerned about others on how they perceive this- you openly breastfeeding your baby. Don't get me wrong – breastfeeding is great but lets be aware of others who are not confortable seeing this…this people have rights and feelings too!
we are so concerned as to what others would do or think that we humans should remain constipated most of the year
If it is an appropriate spot to feed a child, it is an appropriate spot to breastfeed a child. Unless the mom is taking off her shirt, the mom has no reason to be concerned about how others perceive this. The problem is with people who thinks breast are only sexual when they are really functional.
"Bullied", really…Americans are getting so sensitive to every little thing these days! Anyone that read your article will see that the two Target employees "asked", not "demand", not even "told" either!! So the lady clearly made a huge mountain out of nothing! It appears she wanted attention and to be "seen" by Targets customer. Like it's suppose to be cool or something. This lady needs to respect herself! Plus, you have creeps and perverts out there that would love to be checking this out. Do you want that in your store or business?
I concur with John Paul here. What happened to common sense and courtesy for others? apparently a newer generation of breastfeeding mothers don't give two hoots who they offend or bother by their actions. I am a woman, who breastfed her children, sometimes in public. But I had the courtesy to do so in a more secluded area or go out to my car to do so. Not because I was embarrassed of my breast, heck I was a exotic dancer for years when I was young, but because it was the right blessed thing to do!
Really John Paul! I bet you gawk plenty at women who wear next to nothing and let their boobs hang out for everyone to see, and that doesn't bother you a bit. If people don't like to see women discretely breastfeed their babies, they don't have to look. Breasts are for breastfeeding! What is wrong with that? I'd rather see that than see men with their pants hanging down on their knees and holding their genitals in the pretext of holding their pants up. There is no purpose or reason for that!
Why is it ok to wear a low cut blouse and short shorts, but not to breastfeed? The lady had a blanket over herself and her baby. It's not as if she let it all hang out. So it was obvious what was going on. Why is it offensive to feed a baby the way nature intended? I have to hold my tongue and try to see the convenience factor every time I see woman place a (likely BPA-ridden plastic bottle) into their child's mouth. It is a shame in my mind that more women don't breastfeed. ALL studies show it's for the child's benefit.
It is not offensive to feed a baby the natural way. But it IS offensive to me not to take other people and their choice NOT to see your breast or you doing so into consideration. There are plenty of places to breastfeed besides the FLOOR in TARGET! People sit in the floor to protest, because they are ill (either physically or mentally) but to do something that is natural and call it being discrete? hardly. And I speak as a mother of 3 who breastfed in appropriate places.
She is sitting on the FLOOR in the women's apparel section of TARGET, for gosh sakes! This is "discreet"? Do you think that is the safest place to nurse one's infant? A changing room would have been much safer, and more "discreet". I think this mom is looking for a reason to take offense, and not considering what retailing is like during a recession.
i agree, like most 60 and 70 generation nuts, she must be trying to —What?
I have raised five children, and am now passed the baby stage of parenting. When I would breast feed, I would seek a private spot, as I could not relax to nurse, whenI was nervous or stared at by strangers. It was a private time for me and my child, to play with my hair, or ear, and fondle my face. I do not see what is so important to cause a fuss to want to display yourself to weirdos, and sometimes Peres who enjoy watching in a nasty way. It is our body, yet, a blanket, and a private spot is not asking toto much. Just letting it all hang out , is sloppy, and not respectful, to oneself, or the beautiful ability we have as women to nurse our little one's. It may not bother women who wear attire that reveals their breasts before moth hood, and have no modesty, but, it does bother women who are modest and want to convey that to others, and show respect. I do not believe that times have changed so much from my now 21 yr old, to become so lax in personal respect.
As a retired officer of the law I understand both sides of this issue. Most mothers that I have observed doing this usually are covered up, if they can't or won't be a little more discreet then they should choose a more private place. And I'll say this if called to investigate something like this it would be more likely that the police officer would simply talk to the mother rather than arrest her. So it all comes down to common sense, like everything else in life. Choose how you act and the things you do in front of others carefully and with a little bit of wisdom and common sense and you'll never offend nor embarrass yourself or others.
men and babies thank god for breasts