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Women Unite to Support Breastfeeding in Public After Mom Faces Harassment
It’s 2016, and believe it or not, a mother can still face harassment for simply feeding her baby in public. The latest incident unfolded in Australia when a nursing mother was told to vacate a shopping center’s food court because she was breastfeeding her child.
Meet Emma Johnson, who was nearly done with her lunch when her 7-month-old baby started fussing for food. Deciding to nourish her little one, Emma was soon met with a slew of complaints. She shared with the Bendigo Gazette that an elderly gentleman approached her, stating, “You can’t do that here. It’s inappropriate.” To make matters worse, another mother chimed in, declaring, “That’s so rude with kids around.” Eventually, a manager intervened, insisting she relocate to a designated “breastfeeding room” in the mall.
By the time Emma reached the so-called “breastfeeding room,” her baby was in full meltdown mode. I ask you: what’s more distracting—a hungry, screaming baby or a peacefully feeding one?
Emma took to a local moms group to vent about her experience, and one mom suggested organizing a “mass breastfeeding session” in the food court to educate the naysayers that no one has the right to dictate where a mother can feed her child. The idea caught fire and led to the “Boobs for Babies” protest.
On a Friday, women gathered at Bendigo Marketplace to stand in solidarity with Emma, sending a powerful message: stop the harassment of breastfeeding mothers. In Australia, breastfeeding in public is completely legal—just like in many other places—but that doesn’t stop people from trying to shame moms into hiding. As long as this continues, there will be women ready to support each other, and rightly so.
Kudos to all the ladies who showed up! Following the protest, the marketplace issued an apology, expressing regret that a member of the community felt discomfort while shopping. You can bet the staff wished they had kept quiet. Mission accomplished!
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In summary, Emma’s experience highlights an ongoing issue for nursing mothers in public spaces. The solidarity shown by women at the protest emphasizes the need for support and understanding in these situations.