If you’ve ever needed to pump breastmilk at work, you’ll want to check out this compelling Twitter thread shared by author Maya Thompson. She recounts her experiences with workplace pumping struggles, and it’s a tale that many working mothers can resonate with. Despite society’s progress, there’s often that one male coworker who finds breastfeeding or pumping to be objectionable.
Thompson’s narrative is set in a time when workplaces were not mandated to provide clean, designated areas for breastfeeding employees, showing how far we still need to go even in 2023. Her experiences are all too familiar.
After her pumping sessions, Thompson would regularly wash her equipment in the breakroom sink, only to face daily complaints from male coworkers. It seems there are some serious societal hang-ups about breastmilk being in view. It’s not an inappropriate substance; it’s the essential nutrition for infants—something that should be embraced rather than shamed.
In her story, she describes a particularly memorable encounter with a male coworker who seemed particularly bothered by her actions. It’s often the case that when it’s not a judgmental woman, it’s a man who lacks respect for a woman’s body or role as a mother.
Many reading Thompson’s experience will likely relate. When she returned to her job at a trendy advertising firm, she was offered the use of an unkempt restroom reserved for individuals with disabilities as her pumping space. The restroom was not only dirty but also frequently used by male coworkers, who seemed disgruntled that they had to walk further to a more appropriate restroom. Even worse, they would leave passive-aggressive notes and signs to discourage her use of the space, which left her feeling angry and disrespected.
In summary, this thread serves as a stark reminder that, particularly regarding women’s bodies and the challenges of motherhood in the workplace, some men can be incredibly insensitive. If you feel the urge to respond with “not all men,” consider taking a step back and reflecting on the realities many women face.
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