A mother in Limerick, Pennsylvania, is voicing her frustration after an employee at her local YMCA requested that she leave a toddler gym class due to breastfeeding her son. Despite living in a time when breastfeeding should be normalized, this incident serves as a reminder that there is still a long way to go in terms of acceptance.
In a Facebook post that quickly gained traction, Sarah Johnson recounted her experience during a weekly toddler gym class with her 19-month-old son. When her child became hungry, she found a discreet corner and began to breastfeed him. Shortly thereafter, two employees approached her with an unreasonable request to move outside the classroom.
“I was sitting on the balance beam against the wall,” Johnson explained. “To my right, there were large storage shelves filled with toys and balls. I was nursing my son when staff entered and informed me that I needed to relocate to the benches outside because there were ‘men in this class that are uncomfortable.’” It seems these men had never encountered a nursing baby before.
Johnson’s friend asked if there was a designated nursing area, only to be told that mothers could nurse in the locker room. “The locker room that is co-ed, filled with men, women, and children,” Johnson pointed out. Despite her protests about nursing in a bathroom, the employee insisted she couldn’t breastfeed in the class. When Johnson mentioned that it was illegal to ask nursing mothers to go to a private area, the employee contested this claim.
In fact, in 49 states, it is illegal to ask a breastfeeding mother to move to a more private location. Eventually, staff members looked up the law and confirmed their mistake, yet the suggestion to use the locker room persisted. “I spoke with the teacher and the associate director who confirmed that it is illegal to ask a nursing mother to leave a room,” Johnson recalled. “However, they suggested that I nurse with a cover or use a stall with curtains in the locker room.”
The associate director claimed that the YMCA does not have an issue with nursing mothers, but the situation felt discriminatory to Johnson. “In 2016, at a family-friendly facility, it’s disheartening to see women being treated this way for simply feeding their child,” she concluded in her post.
The incident sparked significant debate, with YMCA CEO Tom Richards later clarifying that the employee’s intent was misunderstood. “Our employee did not mean to imply that she wasn’t welcome to breastfeed,” he explained to a news outlet. “The request was made because she was sitting on a balance beam that was being used for class activities.”
In the aftermath, Johnson received apologies from YMCA representatives, and a group of mothers even organized a nurse-in to show their support. Regardless of the intent behind the employee’s request, the experience left Johnson feeling uncomfortable about breastfeeding, a sentiment many mothers can relate to. It’s unfortunate that nursing moms often have to navigate these kinds of situations. Hopefully, Johnson’s story will shed light on the legal rights of breastfeeding women and encourage facilities to foster a more supportive environment.
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In summary, Johnson’s experience at the YMCA highlights the ongoing challenges breastfeeding mothers face in public spaces. It is essential for facilities to provide a supportive atmosphere for nursing moms, ensuring their rights are respected while promoting a family-friendly environment.
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