Breastfeeding is a natural and essential part of motherhood, yet some still face judgment for feeding their babies in public. A mother from Tennessee recently made waves online by illustrating this ridiculous double standard in an eye-catching photo.
Emily Jones, who shared her experience on Facebook, posted a picture of herself nursing her baby in front of a large bra advertisement at a Dillard’s store. This came after an employee told her that she should move to the restroom to breastfeed. “Why is it okay for a giant image of breasts to be on the wall, but I can’t feed my child?” she questioned, and rightly so.
Emily’s 18-month-old began to fuss, prompting her to ask a staff member if it was permissible to nurse in the store. The employee initially nodded in agreement, but moments later insisted that Emily relocate to the restroom to feed her baby. Shocked by the request, she sought clarification, only to be directed again to the bathroom. The expectation that she should interrupt her baby’s feeding and head to a bathroom—where people go to relieve themselves—seems absurd, especially in a store that specializes in bras.
Dillard’s has since issued an apology and clarified their policies on breastfeeding in their stores. While regulations vary by state, in Tennessee, mothers have the right to breastfeed in any public or private setting.
The irony is palpable: a store that sells a myriad of bras—designed for various purposes, including nursing—would suggest that a mother should hide her breastfeeding in a restroom. Many mothers resonated with Emily’s experience, sharing similar frustrations about society’s discomfort with breastfeeding, while some blatantly criticized her for not being discreet.
“I’ve received some heartbreaking comments, with people suggesting I’m a bad mother or that I should switch to cows milk instead,” Emily shared. “Why do they think animal milk is better than human milk?”
In a world where the focus should be on nurturing our children, it seems there’s an ongoing struggle between societal norms and the natural act of breastfeeding. As Emily emphasized, everyone’s goal is to raise healthy, happy children, even if we choose different paths to achieve it.
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In summary, Emily’s experience underscores the ongoing contradiction in our culture regarding breastfeeding, especially in places that sell bras, which are meant to celebrate women’s bodies. The conversation continues, and mothers everywhere are advocating for acceptance and understanding.