Hollister Clothing incident - Texas

[TheMommyBlawger]

Have y'all heard about this really outrageous incident that happened at a Hollister store near Dallas, Texas?

http://tinyurl.com/ylbjsmo

I've been in communication with the mom in the story, and she has yet to get a response from her complaint. Yesterday she talked to someone at the corporate headquarters (Hollister is owned by Abercrombe & Fitch) and is not sure they will even respond at all.

Anyone who is motivated to do so might want to call either their local Hollister store or A&F's corporate office and ask them to clarify their store policy. Some good questions to ask are here: http://firstright.org/lactivism_q_a

Thanks!

[OperaDiva]

I just heard about this yesterday, I am beyond outraged. And thinking I should comment on the article once I've calmed down, because the lack of information out there is stunning.

I live within driving distance of this mall. Nurse-in anyone?

[proudmomof4]

She even had the curtain closed? Whoa.

[dogmom327]

Putting aside the BF angle for a minute (which is outrageous--not denying that for a second!)...

So she's in a dressing room, the attendant saw her go in there, saw feet under the curtain and he rips the curtain open? What if she'd been trying on a shirt or something (wouldn't be able to tell looking at her feet)? Isn't this a store where primarily teenagers shop? Would any of us want our teenage daughter for example trying on clothes someplace where the dressing room attendant feels the right to rip open the curtain whenever they want? Basic privacy???

[RheaSilva]

That was unbelievably rude! I am personally of the "breastfeeding should be done in private" persuasion but this poor woman WAS trying to do so discretely and that BOAR ripped open the curtain? This incident makes my blood boil and I hope the appropriate people are punished.

[crunchy_mommy]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Why on earth would he open the dressing room door?! That's not even a BF'ing issue, it's just basic respect & privacy!!

But regardless, I don't understand the BF'ing thing, I've BF in fitting rooms many times & never had an issue. I also don't understand the part that says she was told that there were nursing rooms available... why would she want to trek halfway across the mall (I'm guessing) with a screaming baby to use what probably amounts to a dirty family restroom with a hard plastic chair? (I have no idea what that mall is like, just speculating)

And why won't the company comment?

Well I would totally nurse-in but I'm all the way across the country... Although I could see if there is a Hollister near me!

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

So she's in a dressing room, the attendant saw her go in there, saw feet under the curtain and he rips the curtain open? What if she'd been trying on a shirt or something (wouldn't be able to tell looking at her feet)? Isn't this a store where primarily teenagers shop? Would any of us want our teenage daughter for example trying on clothes someplace where the dressing room attendant feels the right to rip open the curtain whenever they want? Basic privacy???

I don't care *what* what she was doing. How can the company think it is okay for a male employee to open the door of a changing room while someone is inside it?!?!?

Personally, I do think it is okay, if there are few changing rooms, to says, "I'm sorry, but we don't have very many changing rooms, could we ask you to breastfeed over here" and then offer a chair or something outside of the dressing room itself. I would hope they would only do that if the store was crowded, though. Just because a nursing room is available somewhere in the mall does NOT mean the mother needs to use it!

[annettemarie]

Please remember to refrain from namecalling, no matter how deserved. Thanks, mamas!

[annettemarie]

And yeah, that nursing room argument is ridiculous. That room is there for the convenience of mothers, not stores.

[momasana]

How infuriating. I can't believe he just whipped open the curtain like that! Breastfeeding or not I think it is incredibly inappropriate for him to invade her privacy like that.

[OperaDiva]

From what I hear the nursing rooms are actually pretty nice at this mall, and just upstairs from Hollister, but regardless it is up to the Mom where she feeds her baby, no one else has a say! I'm going to XP this story in Find your Tribe to see if anyone wants to organize a nurse-in.

[TheMommyBlawger]

OperaDiva - plans for a nurse-in are already underway, IF it seems like the best course of action after the mom receives/doesn't receive a response.

If anyone is local and would like to be kept up-to-date on the plans, please join the Yahoo! group set up for that purpose:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFW_Lactivist/

[SpiderMum]

I can't believe a male employee just pulled the curtain back like that! It was bad enough that he bothered a nursing mom...but that just screams misconduct on all levels.

[boobs4milk]

man i wish we could go visit the in-laws! i'm up for a nurse-in!

i agree it's a bf issue, but what gives the employee the right to come into the dressing area like that?

[NettleTea]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

So she's in a dressing room, the attendant saw her go in there, saw feet under the curtain and he rips the curtain open?

Not that it makes this situation any less sickening, but he claims that he DIDN'T see feet under the curtain.

The employee said he saw Yap go into the dressing room with the baby. When he was checking to see if the dressing room was open, he didn't see feet under the curtain. He pulled open the curtain and saw her breast-feeding.

His actions don't add up when he starts off with saying that he saw her go into the dressing room. Did he think that she just magically disappeared once she went in there?

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by NettleTea

His actions don't add up where he starts off with saying that he saw her go into the dressing room. Did he think that she just magically disappeared once she went in there?

I KNEW there was another entrance to Narnia.

[LiLStar]

Blech, I can't get anywhere near that store. If I'm in the mall and I need to go to a store and hollister is between me and it, I have to hold my breath and run. It reeks SO bad and makes the stores on either side of it stink too. When I was pregnant, it would make me nauseous. Even at an outdoor mall here the SIDEWALK stinks. Don't think I could stomach a nurse in

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I KNEW there was another entrance to Narnia.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I KNEW there was another entrance to Narnia.

Now I really wish I was nearby!

[NettleTea]

People must have such strange ideas about what goes on while breastfeeding