A mother recently shared her distressing experience with being shamed for breastfeeding in public, only to be dismissed as a “victim” by gym staff. This incident unfolded at a fitness club in Ohio, where the mom, named Lisa Parker, was nursing her eight-month-old son at an on-site cafe.
While attending a meeting, Lisa noticed her son becoming hungry and decided to breastfeed him. However, a gym employee approached her, insisting she move to a more private area. Despite Lisa’s polite refusal, the employee continued to press the issue, claiming that the gym supports breastfeeding but wants to ensure Lisa was “accommodated.”
In her Facebook post, Lisa recounted the employee’s insistence, stating, “She kept saying how much she ‘understood’ because she had breastfed and that they just wanted to make sure I was comfortable.” After feeling harassed, Lisa called her husband for support, who then spoke to the gym’s manager, a man named Tom.
Tom shockingly accused Lisa and her husband of playing the victim, even after acknowledging that he had seen onlookers staring and commenting on the situation. He emphasized that the primary goal was to get her to move or cover up. When Lisa’s husband cited Ohio’s breastfeeding laws, Tom responded with, “Well, I’m legally allowed to ask her to cover up.”
Having breastfed her children for a total of 31 months, Lisa expressed feelings of hurt, sadness, and anger about the incident. She underscored the importance of advocating for breastfeeding in public, stating, “It’s sad that we still have to fight for this right in 2016. There’s a reason breastfeeding advocates exist—they have to.”
Despite the gym’s official statement claiming a commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers, Lisa’s experience was anything but supportive. It’s astonishing that even in this day and age, mothers still face challenges when simply trying to nourish their children. It’s about time that the best way to “accommodate” breastfeeding moms is to respect their right to do so without undue pressure or harassment.
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In summary, Lisa’s ordeal highlights the ongoing struggle for breastfeeding rights in public spaces, demonstrating that there’s still much work to be done to foster respect and support for nursing mothers.