“The battle over public breast-feeding has moved to a new front line: Victoria’s Secret stores, where lacy bras are in, but nursing mothers are out, angry moms charge.
A Quincy mother says she was humiliated when an employee of the lingerie franchise’s Faneuil Hall store flatly refused to allow her to breast-feed her daughter, directing her to a public restroom outside. “
This is the Boston Herald article from today. I would hope it goes without saying how ridiculous it is that VS of all places tried to prohibit a mother from breastfeeding becuase it was ‘unsanitary’. The interesting thing in this case is that VS corporate policy is that breastfeeding is permitted inside their stores. It would seem that this is an easily-fixed case of a misunderstanding gone awry. However, this is at least the third time in a year that a woman has been asked to quit nursing in a VS store. Last week, a woman was told that her breast ‘might offend’ someone.
A breast. In Victoria’s Secret. Might OFFEND someone. Say what?
It is a miscommunication that runs deeper than just sales associates on the floor though, as even employees at corporate headquarters have incorrectly said that breastfeeding is not permitted. There is a call to action now to have company policy clearly outlined to all VS employees so that no more mothers have to deal with the embarrasment caused by an uneducated employee enforcing a ficticious policy.
Country-wide nurse-ins are scheduled for July 1st at 1 p.m. (local time) at local VS stores, and there is a 3 Minute Activist Letter at ProMoM.org.
So Britney Spears can change a dirty diaper in the middle of a VS store, but a mother cannot nurse her hungry child? (I’m full of useless knowledge, forgive) That’s terrible. A good reason for me to just keep away from VS for a while, not that I ever did much shopping there anyway.
Brittany Spears changed her baby’s diaper in the VS in my mall while I was in the store next door, lol.
I’m mixed on this topic, I feel that mothers should cover their breasts while in public, like with a blanket over the baby’s head/their breast…as long as that happens, mother’s should be able to breastfeed wherever they choose.
Why would you want to breastfeed in the middle of VS? Or any store for that matter. As a comfort issue (mother’s not the general public) wouldn’t you want to go sit down?
I don’t usually comment on anything BF related because I didn’t BF my son. But I have to say…
When your child is hungry it’s your job to feed them. No matter where you are. And EVERY mother should have that right.
Women shouldn’t be forced into a public restroom to feed their children. How would you like to eat your next meal in a friggin restroom?
People are so stupid.
just got home from work……WOW!! if a nurse in wasn’t already scheduled, i’d schedule one!!
unsanitary? breastmilk heals all wounds (well ok, most of them) It’s sterile as it’s leaving the breast. Now that I think about it, I can’t think of a more appropriate place to nurse than VS. Excellent post!
That’s insane. I sent my letter. We had a woman in the store the other day who was breastfeeding her child. Granted I work in a women’s clothing store, but still. She didn’t go in a fitting room. She just sat down in a chair by the fitting rooms and fed her child. It didn’t even occur to me to say anything to her, because frankly, there is nothing to say. If people don’t want to see it, don’t look.
THey should still cover up if they are going to do it
I read of a bunch of previous comments and noticed everyone saying that this mother should still cover up- She asked to go into a changing room to feed her baby. No one would have seen her.
and that is fine. its the ones that refuse to cover up that i have a problem with
another reason to dislike victoria’s secret. I like their undies, their lotions, and their scents, but that’s about it. their sales associates are pushy and their bras not only run about 2 sizes too small, but also don’t come in my size. hmph.
Also, in response to previous comments, a mother shouldn’t HAVE to cover up, or be forced out of a store to breastfeed, because that’s only feeding the myth that breastfeeding is something taboo. It’s completely natural, healthy, and normal, and if you’re offended by someone breastfeeding in public, then you need to get your head checked,
What is there to cover up? I bet you that you actually SEE alot of moms nursing, and never even realize it because they ARE covered up. It’s not like a mom has to flop her tits out everywhere to feed a child.
Uncovered or covered doesn’t bother me at all. My soon to be sister in law uses a blanket when she breastfeeds my neice, and she did the same with my nephew. People don’t have to look.
Now that Jen mentioned it, I’ve never seen a mother breastfeeding that had an unnesessary amount of boob exposed. To be honest, most of them looked like they were just sitting there with their baby and not really doing anything.
How ridiculous. I’ve submitted a letter.
I reckon that changing a dirty nappy/diaper in the middle of a store is less hygenic than breastfeeding.
as i said they should cover up. it has nothing to do with taboo. no one wants to see that. its tacky. they make those special blankets to cover it.
USE IT
TGO, I’d rather see a woman breastfeeding her baby..covered..then seeing Paris Hilton not wearing underwear. Thats tacky.
Crys - that’s usually the case. Easy to cover up once you have the hang of it.
As TGO said - it is tacky if you make no effort to cover up the excess boobage. Just because you’re comfortable with it, doesn’t mean the rest of the world is. Yes, it’s a natural thing (so is sex…) And it’s the best thing you can ever give your baby, but it’s still a sexual organ. It isn’t breastfeeding that’s “taboo”, it’s the showing of the breast in public places.
In this case with VS, though - it wasn’t an issue of either. It was one retarded sales person that should be fired. Breastfeeding isn’t unsanitary at all… Unless you’re having some fun with super-aggressive letdown and spraying milk along the change room stall while writing out your initials :D
wow, jocelyn agreeing with TGO.
is it a full moon?
I hope VS changes it’s mind
i actually have to say that there is a superstition that it’s good luck for a woman to breastfeed her child in a building. it’s supposed to represent the growth of life and something else, or at least that is what i heard. but anyways, i feel that laws against public breast feeding is a political and economic move. with growing laws against public BF less women will do it resulting in the necessary purchasing of formulas which increases sales and therefore passes more money to the government.