Gimme feedback on my silly activism idea.

[stretchmark]

Hi. DH is an ex-rock climber and was telling me how he used to climb the walls at UC Boulder and put advertisements on the windows of the school where they couldn't be taken down unless someone did a simmilar thing and went up the wall.

It got me thinking, not about rock-climbing, but about sneakily putting 'We support Breastfeeding' stickers on the outside of businesses' windows. Now I don't actually know if I would do that but was just wanting feedback on it. I have already turned away from nurse-ins as an idea to help support bfing because I think it makes us look like weird aliens and if bfing is going to continue being this 'weird' thing in peoples eyes that we shouldn't attempt to draw more weird attention. ANyways, I am not sure i got that thought out clearly because I have low blood-sugar and need some breakfast. But anyways, what do you think?

As I write this, I think maybe taking stickers to the businesses and asking them if they would put one on their front window would be a beter idea. It's funny how I come here wanting feedback and then end up answering my own questioning.

[velcromom]

It would be a great opportunity to tell them briefly why bf is worth advocating and also to scan the business for NIP locations. You could give them info about mom's right to NIP and maybe compliment them for having what looks like such a nice spot for a busy mom to be able to stop and feed her baby. Maybe also mention that we moms spread the word when businesses are good to us by telling each other what places are NIP friendly, too! If I saw a 'breastfeeding friendly' sign outside a place I'd want to go in and check it out, I'd expect there were places where I would be welcome to sit and nurse.

Ok well maybe that's a bit more intensive advocating than you were originally thinking!

[dawndup]

I probably wouldn't put the stickers up in stealth mode, but it would be awesome to have "breastfeeding friendly" window stickers along with literature to hand out to businesses.

I live in Fort Collins and the biking community passes out "bike to shop" stickers to merchants who put up bike racks and are in general "bike friendly". It would be really neat to give bf'ing friendly stickers to businesses who have nursing areas or at the very least, included breastfeeding awareness in their employee training.

I like it.

[RidentMama]

I would definitely go into a store that was BF friendly!!! Heck, I'd make it a point to go there rather than somewhere else. I also agree that asking rather than "stealth mode" would be more appropriate...we're trying to get people more open about bfing, not becoming guerilla fighters!

PS: Velcromom--I LOVE your sig line!

[phathui5]

Anyone know where we can get those "breastfeeding friendly" stickers to give to businesses?

[stretchmark]

I love that sig too!
I have no idea where to get those stickers, I saw some other stuff on kellymom but I don't think I saw those stickers. Let's find some.

[LinzluvsGJ]

Here is something similar:
http://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/Page/...age_Id=638&h=1
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/advocacy/welcome.html

http://www.breastfeeding.org/award/bfprogram.html
http://www.nlg.nhs.uk/news/display_media.asp?ID=507
http://www.dhs.state.or.us/publichea...000/0510bf.cfm

It's apparently a plan in act in a lot of other countries (namely the UK and Australia) and in some sections of certain states.... this is only a few of the links I found online. Very encouraging! I personally like the idea and would be more than willing to pass out said stickers and pamphlets to businesses I visit. My local mall is terrible for nursing areas (none... and you have to fight to use the one family bathroom which gets taken up by teenagers and single men a lot it seems) as well as some other businesses I have visited. It's very frustrating to me and I'm not even currently nursing in public!

[Sarah]

I just have to say... I love the rock climber's activism possibilities... I would love to see that put to an anti-circ angle...

"I figured out how to hang this sign, I can also wash my own penis. Circumcision for hygiene is inherently sexist."

The idea of putting stores on the spot certainly is interesting. It makes me think that our LLL needs to do a town in-service day to educate local shopkeepers on how to "deal" with breastfeeding mothers.


Love Sarah

[velcromom]

Thinking of educating business owners, how about talking to the Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club, lots of businesses belong to that type of organization and maybe you could gain an opportunity to speak at one of their lunches or other events.

[CarrieMF]

I wouldn't without the business owners knowing. If you put a decal on a window about the business being bf'ing friendly and a woman walked in, started bf'ing and was asked to leave because they're not really a bf'ing friendly business what kind of message does that send?

It would be better to sit down with the owners and ask if they would be willing to have one added to their window. Then you could send a press release to the papers about all of the bf'ing friendly businesses in your area.