In a perplexing incident, a mother was prohibited from breastfeeding her baby in a Barneys dressing room in Scottsdale, Arizona, due to concerns about potential theft. Typically, department store dressing rooms are viewed as private and appropriate spaces for nursing; however, Andrea Thompson, the mother in question, was informed by the store’s staff that her presence posed a “loss prevention” risk.
Thompson expressed her confusion, as the same dressing rooms are accessible to non-nursing customers without issue. It raises the question: why would a mother nursing her infant be treated differently than any other shopper? The only distinction is that she has a baby with her. It’s hard to imagine that staff thought a four-month-old could somehow be involved in theft.
Furthermore, if a mother can bring her child into a dressing room to try on clothes, it seems illogical to deny her the right to nurse in that same space. Thompson even suggested that store employees could search her belongings if they were concerned about theft. Instead, she was directed to use the public restroom, which lacked a comfortable place to sit, offering only an open toilet seat.
According to Arizona law, women are entitled to breastfeed anywhere they have the right to be, which includes dressing rooms. This situation is particularly surprising considering the ongoing societal discussions around supporting breastfeeding mothers in public. While many would typically expect a store to encourage nursing in a dressing room for privacy, this incident illustrates a shocking contradiction.
In response to the backlash, Barneys stated that they would be reviewing their lactation policies and staff training across all locations to ensure compliance with the law. It is essential for employees to be educated about breastfeeding rights and to create a welcoming environment for nursing mothers.
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In summary, the denial of a nursing mother’s right to use a dressing room highlights the ongoing challenges faced by breastfeeding women in public spaces. It is crucial for retailers to foster an environment that supports nursing mothers, ensuring they can feed their infants comfortably and privately.