I've noticed that Facebook has been a popular topic for this weeks blog posts. I had already thought about this idea and decided I still wanted to blog about it . Sorry for the Facebook repetition! Recently Facebook took down pictures of mothers breastfeeding. This ruffled a lot of feathers! This article from the LA Times talks more about it.
Both of my sisters recently had babies and are breastfeeding. They were both bothered by the removal of the pictures. Although neither one likes to breastfeed in public places. One of my sisters is a nurse and will pump in a special area at work. She often complains about how excluded she feels during her break time.( the special area also used to be a closet so not alot of space is available) This made me think about the library. IF is usually promoted at the library and lots of mothers visit with their children. Does breastfeeding factor into this? In many museums a new mother room is available for breastfeeding. I thought of the libraries I have visited during my lifetime and could not remember a special area for new mothers.
If a mother does breastfeed her child in the children's department, would this cause patrons to complain or children to ask questions their parents do not feel comfortable answering? I do not currently work in a library or have children so I can't use my life experience to answer this question. When I worked in a school we had a few teachers who would pump in the teacher's lounge. I personally had no objection but a few teachers complained and a special area was created. Having to go to this special area would take away from the little free time they had during the day. It seemed as though the mother's freedoms were being taken away. On the other hand if you find it offensive or if it makes you uncomfortable isn't it your right to complain?
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Megan, I truly did not know that breastfeeding could be an issue anywhere. My lifetime library experience has exposed me to women who breast feed their babies quite a bit in the library setting. I have never seen any of them be anything but quietand discreet about it. What I mean is that they usually find a place out of the main drag/like in the (empty) storytelling rooms, or in an area where there are rocking chairs. Of course, it would depend on the physical setting of the library; there may not be an area that is quieter or more private. All I know is that here in Indy there don't seem to be issues about it; I think I would have heard.
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ReplyDeleteEuropeans often sneer at Americans as being too puritanical. This seems like another example to support that - or perhaps it's just that my time in Korea made me accustomed to see mothers feeding their children (often an older child would bump the baby away for a quick swig) in public.
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