|
 |
3/22/2007
Legislating breastfeeding is dumb
A mom gets humiliated because she’s hassled in a public place for breastfeeding. So go and make a law about it. Geeez.
What if everybody wanted to have a law passed when they were humiliated?
(A constituent apparently complained to Senator Risser (D-Madison), resulting in SB 30, the “Breast-Feeding Bill.” Read the Journal Sentinel article about it here.)
Don’t get me wrong. I breast-fed my kids until they were well over a year old – never a bottle. And that means I breast-fed in lots of public places. My memory fails… but I do remember a plethora of shopping malls, Disneyland, Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. And of course, I was discreet.
Was this mom that now seeks legislative recourse, discreet too? I’m assuming so. Though my eyes certainly have been drawn to a bare breast now and again, most always, moms cover themselves with a blanket or some such thing. So because some security guard thought it was inappropriate (I guess…), we need a law about it?
According to the Reference Bureau’s analysis of SB30, sponsored by Senator Risser and Representative Sheldon Wasserman (M.D., D-Milwaukee), current laws banning lewd behavior in public do not apply to breast-feeding. Nevertheless, this bill would make sure everyone knew a mother was permitted to breastfeed anywhere she is “otherwise authorized to be.” If that self-same security guard should interfere once again with the busy mom, he would be fined, in an amount not to exceed $200. Oh my.
You know, it’s not just the representatives that wrote the bill (well, the 6 sentences), it’s also the Legislative Reference Bureau that researched and analyzed it and it’s time spent by the committees that will hear the bill and ultimately, the full legislature. Is this kind of thing the reason we’re one of only 11 states with a full time legislature?
Let’s get reasonable. Yes, I agree with the 110 people who either testified for the bill in the Assembly Health Committee Tuesday or registererd in favor of the health and bonding it promotes. Breast milk is wonderful for all involved. But please don’t pass a 6-line law that tries to tell me that.
COMMENTS
I can almost guarantee that if you whip out a breast in public you're going to be the center of all eyes and there will be mothers putting their hands over their young boys'(and probably older teens') eyes.
These things can be done discreetly in public and all it requires is a receiving blanket to throw over the front of you and everything can be done under it. It's safe and simple. Try it at home.
C.R. Stevenson (Thu Mar 22 15:18:00 2007)
I think this should be a non-issue, but since some people are being ignorant about it I think this law should be passed. People need to be made more aware of this. I know several people who were told they "couldn't", one in a fitting room becuase breastfeeding was unhygenic. What?!? Maybe if it were a law, businesses would educate their employees on this better, they don't want to pay the fine after all. I believe bfing is a basic human right, like breathing. People should get used to bfing in public....breasts aren't only for sexual purposes.
Melissa (Fri Mar 23 00:37:19 2007)
If people would just learn to respect other people, there wouldn't be a need for a lot of legislation out there, but the cold hard fact remains that unless nursing moms are protected, by LAW, there is always going to be some jerk that is going to harrass them for doing the very best thing they can for their child. Even with laws in some states, there are stories of nursing moms that are harassed, but these stories have been on the decline since the laws to protect the right have passed. Make it financially hard for someone to harass a nursing mother and they decide it's just not worth it. The 6-line law isn't to convince people that nursing is worthwhile and good, people should already know that. The 6-line law is to make sure that no woman is shamed into believing that nursing in public is dirty or something to be hidden away in the bathroom. THAT is worth protecting.
I absolutely agree THAT is worth protecting. Absolutely. But can we protect against the shaming a way other than a law? JE
Rebecca (Sat Mar 24 10:07:27 2007)
The reason we need a law to protect mothers who happen to be in public when their breastfeeding children get hungry is plain and simple: because many mothers are being harassed.(110 testified at the Capitol on 3/20/07.) Even one case of harassment is enough to warrant a law that protects mothers and nursing babies in public. But let's talk about the elephant in the room instead. American culture objectifies the female body. Women have never been more "liberated" and more objectified. Anna Nicole's implanted breasts are flashed all over the television for weeks, but mothers discreetly nursing thier children are being intimidated into nursing in hiding. Breastfeeding is not a sexual act. The primary purpose for the breast, by God's design, is to feed children. There is nothing crewd, lewd, or indecent about God's design--so why are all these mothers being asked to leave public places in order to breastfeed in private? Breastfeeding promotes mother and child togetherness; this is a traditional family value. We keep telling mothers that breast milk is the gold standard, but if they plan to breastfeed, they better be careful about going out in public. Health authorities and legislators are sending mothers mixed messages. Breastfeeding in public is taboo in our American culture. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be so much "opposition" to it, or blogs making fun of this legislation! Passing a law that protects a mother's right to breastfeed in public will send the right, consistent, family values type message: "Yes, breast is best, and to make it as easy as possible on post-partum moms, we're going to protect them from harassment."
Hmm. All great points. The elephant in the room.... good. JE
Mary Fabian (Sat Mar 24 15:44:20 2007)
This issue that I see as a health care provider and a breastfeeding mother is our current culture. Breasts are for feeding our children! Unfortunately, yet ironically, our very puritanical culture has chalked breasts up to be purely sexual objects. Supporting the breastfeeding bill is about changing culture, it’s about making public policy that breastmilk is best for our children. The formula companies took advantage of our taboo issues with seeing breasts in public and made formula the predominant way our culture chose to feed our children. We need to know take that back. I could go on and on about the health benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and mother. In order to increase the rates of breastfeeding moms, we need to make them feel comfortable, normal and free from harassment! "I can almost guarantee that if you whip out a breast in public you're going to be the center of all eyes and there will be mothers putting their hands over their young boys'(and probably older teens') eyes. These things can be done discreetly in public and all it requires is a receiving blanket to throw over the front of you and everything can be done under it." This is exactly the change to our culture that I'm speaking of. Instead of covering our boys (young or old)eyes...why not say "that woman is feeding her baby." As for putting a blanket over my baby's head...I do not like having my head under blankets even to sleep, much less eat. Why would I do that to my baby??? If you do not like seeing me feed my baby in public, then put a blanket of YOUR head!
Ok, change culture. Good. But why always laws to change culture? The blanket thing - interesting, but I'm not sure I buy it JE
Debbie (Sat Mar 24 18:21:47 2007)
OK, about the blanket thing...if one is nursing a very young baby, then often times, one can get away with having a blanket over the baby. Most often, though, wrestling with latching on a baby while simultaneously trying to cover up with a blanket results in attracting more attention to oneself or in a wardrobe malfunction with even more exposure than intended, Now the Amer. Academy of Pediatrics says that children should be breastfeed at LEAST a year. Older babies definitely do not tolerate blankets. They end up wiggling to get out from under them or playing peek-a-boo with them...again drawing more attention than actually just lifting the shirt a little bit, latching the child on, and not having any skin showing. Some people have more of a problem with just seeing the ACT of breastfeeding, without any skin exposed. That's just plain wrong. They are uncomfortable with what they are not familiar with. It's not hard to just be polite and look away.
I like that - learn to be comfortable with breastfeeding, learn to be polite and just look away. Thank you Laurel. JE
Laurel (Sun Mar 25 08:31:13 2007)
I'm glad you had such a positive breastfeeding experience. I did, too. I was lucky enough not to be harassed while nursing in public. And, at this stage, if anyone tried to harass me, I'd ignore them. It's easy to look back and remember being a confident nursing mother; what's harder is to recapture the feelings you had in the beginning, before you were established, before it was a given, before you were strong. We were lucky not to be harassed during that critical stage, but some mothers are not so lucky.
Sara Samples (Sun Mar 25 15:56:39 2007)
I guess the reason for having a law that specifically gives women the right to breastfeed in public is necessary because of exactly the negative attitude that has been portrayed in this blog. I have not, to this day been severely harassed about breastfeeding my son in public, but I have had a number of eyes rolled at me, which in my opinion is harassment as well. I was at the Health Committee hearing last Tuesday and heard testament from women who have been harassed and made to feel inferior because they were doing what was best for their child. I think it's pretty outrageous of women, who have breastfed, to not support this measure to assure that other women can comfortably and fearlessly nurse their children in public. To you who feel this way I ask: "What in the world are you thinking?" You know it is the best thing for your child and you know that your child will need to eat in public, so what is your problem with having a little legislative help in allowing women to nurture and nourish their children when they are out of the comforts of their own home? Since this seems to be the general attitude about breastfeeding in public then hell yes, we need a law to protect us from the ignorant, uneducated, non-sympathizers or those who say "I've done it without complaining, so buck up and do it too." It is really a shame that there is even such controversy about breastfeeding in public.
Ooh! What I'm thinking, what I'm always thinking, is if there is any possible way to do anything without involving the government, let's take that direction first. JE
Dana W. (Mon Mar 26 09:53:03 2007)
As a mother who has breastfed two children, I completely support the legislation to protect nursing mothers and their children. I agree with those who hold the view that government does not need to get involved and pass laws on every issue. But, in this case, I believe legislation is appropriate. Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice, it's a public health concern. Our national and state health agencies continue to promote breastmilk as the most superior food for infants for countless reasons based on scientific evidence. YET, many people in our society feel that they have the right to interfere/harass a woman who has made the best choice in breastfeeding her child. How do we get the message through to society that breastfeeding is the best choice for our children... and our society as a whole (lower health care costs, less sick days for parents, and healthier children to name a few)? We certainly cannot continue to allow breastfeeding mothers to be harassed and humiliated for nursing their children in public if we plan to continue to promote the benefits of breastmilk! Why should breastfeeding mothers be the only ones to try to educate society and promote awareness of breastfeeding as a natural act that should not be interfered with?
Also, I wanted to add that looking at a woman breastfeeding a child is a biological instinct and completely normal and natural! Every species watches mothers feed their young... it's how our species (and all others) survives! The problem is, most people don't understand this... when they feel drawn to look at a mother nursing their child, they feel embarrassed or confused... which leads to negative feelings towards the breastfeeding mother. This goes back to our society's view of breasts as soley sexual objects. So, I think that when people feel offended by public breastfeeding, they need to recognize that there is nothing sexual or perverted involved in simply noticing a mother nursing her child. Recognizing that she is feeding her child in the way nature and God intended and allowing her to quietly and peacefully nurse her child, is all any breastfeeding mother wants. When a woman makes the choice to breastfeed, she should be applauded, not sent into seclusion.
I believe this legislation will send a message to society that our government supports a woman's right to breastfeed her child anywhere she and her child are otherwise authorized to be! Hopefully, women will stop being harrassed for doing something that is such a positive and loving act!
Kim S. (Mon Mar 26 22:34:42 2007)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
