Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › life guard told me to breast feed elsewhere today
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

life guard told me to breast feed elsewhere today - Page 2  

post #21 of 35
6/29/08 at 1:17am
What makes this even worse than most cases to me, is that you were at the pool, where everyone is in bathing suits. What's the difference?!?
post #22 of 35
6/29/08 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RootSnort View Post
What makes this even worse than most cases to me, is that you were at the pool, where everyone is in bathing suits. What's the difference?!?
Because someone was SUCKING ON HER NIPPLE! and she was USING HER BREAST FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE!
post #23 of 35
6/30/08 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise View Post
Because someone was SUCKING ON HER NIPPLE! and she was USING HER BREAST FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE!
GASP! The HORROR!
post #24 of 35
6/30/08 at 3:41am
You know, I'm in Ketchikan and I actually pulled out the statutes at the library when I had my first. I really think the list of laws on LLLI is incomplete and that we have a protection provision but not an enforcement provision. I would double check that before you get discouraged. If I could afford to fly to Anchorage for a nurse-in, I would be there! Alas, I must pay my mortgage instead.

Good luck!
post #25 of 35
6/30/08 at 10:37am
To the OP, I couldn't tell from your story if the man you complained to was the actual owner of the water park, or just a manager there. If HE has a supervisor, or if the water park is owned by a corporation or other entity, my first step would be to "take it upstairs." I'd write a calm but detailed and firm letter to the corporate leadership describing the incident and why you think they should be treating their customers differently, especially in a business that hopes to attract mamas and babies! You can explain in the letter that you plan to share your story of your experience at their establishment with news media, and be clear about what you would like them to do (change their policy, train their workers, issue you an apology, or whatever). Then send a copy of your letter to your local news station, papers etc. and call them to see if they are interested in pursuing a story.

Frankly, it doesn't matter what the laws are. Taking them to court may not be an option, but giving them a bad name is. Public opinion these days is trending towards supporting breastfeeding (even if there are plenty of hold-outs and ignorant bigots still left in the world) and so is the media; NO business that relies on good customer experiences and good word of mouth is going to want the bad PR that comes from a newspaper or local news story about harassment of a young mother and cute baby. (Having seen a bunch of these news stories on video now, the mamas are always "just trying to feed their babies" and the managers come off looking like real jerks).

If you have energy and passion to pursue this, you can really make something happen. I think companies are starting to react differently when they hear someone has been harassed for breastfeeding. They've all seen the VS and Delta and Applebee's stories and *most* of them are smart enough to want to avoid the same thing.
post #26 of 35
6/30/08 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kimbersdawnly View Post
You know, I'm in Ketchikan and I actually pulled out the statutes at the library when I had my first. I really think the list of laws on LLLI is incomplete and that we have a protection provision but not an enforcement provision. I would double check that before you get discouraged. If I could afford to fly to Anchorage for a nurse-in, I would be there! Alas, I must pay my mortgage instead.

Good luck!
No, I rechecked the Alaska statutes before posting the link to be sure (you are right that the LLLI site does not always have the newest laws). That is an accurate statement of current Alaska breastfeeding law.
post #27 of 35
6/30/08 at 7:17pm
I would highly recommend reporting your incident to www.firstright.org. There are some great moms there we are really making a difference.
post #28 of 35
6/30/08 at 8:02pm
I think you should post the phone number and managers name of the place that this happened. I would love to make a phone call!
post #29 of 35
6/30/08 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RootSnort View Post
What makes this even worse than most cases to me, is that you were at the pool, where everyone is in bathing suits. What's the difference?!?
exactly! that was my thing too. I Mean come one! EVERYONE'S boobs are showing!!
post #30 of 35
6/30/08 at 8:31pm
Oh dear God, he would have had to physically remove me. I didn't even bf (long story) but I can tell you that any sob that treated me that way, for the sake of CHILDREN (who were nourished by a mother, no less) would have picked himself up from the chlorine infested pool side---and we would see who had better legal counsel.
post #31 of 35
6/30/08 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danielle13 View Post
He says go ahead and serve me with papers! you can be discreat! I say, I was being descreat, not that it matters because I don't have to!
OP, Im so sorry all this happened to you.

I can't stand the 'be discreet' argument. it really bugs me.

why dont we do a little experiment and pass a temporary mandate that bottle feeders must make certain that NO PART of the bottle or nipple can show during feeding.

you know, because it might offend someone who cant handle seeing that sort of thing.

(little disclaimer--by posting this, I TRULY mean no hurt or offense toward any mama here who has chosen for their own personal reasons to bottle feed--my comments are really aimed at this lifeguard)
post #32 of 35
7/1/08 at 9:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by meganmarie View Post
Frankly, it doesn't matter what the laws are. Taking them to court may not be an option, but giving them a bad name is. Public opinion these days is trending towards supporting breastfeeding (even if there are plenty of hold-outs and ignorant bigots still left in the world) and so is the media; NO business that relies on good customer experiences and good word of mouth is going to want the bad PR that comes from a newspaper or local news story about harassment of a young mother and cute baby.
Megan, thank you for posting exactly what I was thinking! While breastfeeding laws are important and helpful, companies whose income comes from customers are very mindful of maintaining good public relations. In many cases it may be *more* productive to speak with management about how to support, welcome, include (and not piss off) breastfeeding mothers, instead of immediately taking the legal route. Once lawyers are involved it tends to throw the conflict into a confrontational place, rather than allowing for collaboration between patrons and management to improve the facility's practices and policies.
post #33 of 35
7/1/08 at 10:12pm
I'd write a letter to the editor of ADN.
post #34 of 35
7/1/08 at 10:20pm
I am way too far to help out on this one. I suggest bring lit. about breastfeeding and leave it lying around the pool area. Contact anyone you can and your local LLL to see what you can do about it.
post #35 of 35
7/10/08 at 4:23pm
Can you write the local paper where h20asis is and tell what happened while you were there? I think that mamas who breastfeed would be customers.

Also, was it the owner that gave you a hard time?

I am so sorry. I am so sick of people being harrased for bf!!!

I cannot believe this still happens.

Dear Anchorage paper:

While nursing my baby at h2oasis, I was harrased. BF is the best thing I can do for my child. People bottle feeding in the same area were not harassed.

H20asis shoud get educated and treat their customers that bf with dignity!!

In other words, publicly condemn them for harrasing you!

I would nurse-in if I was there.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Lactivism
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › life guard told me to breast feed elsewhere today