Gee, you’d expect far more empathy from a multinational chain restaurant with hundreds of outlets that insists against all common sense that it is America’s “neighborhood” bar and grill.
And you wonder why I hate chains.
Protesters march outside Applebee's where mother had to cover up
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Armed with babies wearing onesies emblazoned with "breast is best" and "I eat at mom's," protesters marched in front of an Applebee's restaurant on Saturday to support a woman who says she was told to cover up by a restaurant manager.
Around 200 people, some of them carrying signs and breast-feeding, marched in front of the restaurant as drivers honked and gave the thumbs-up, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported on its Web site.
The protest was in support of Brooke Ryan, who said she was breast-feeding her 7-month-old son in June when a manager asked her to cover up. Ryan did not attend the event for "personal reasons."
The protest was one of 60 that have been held at different Applebee's restaurants in recent weeks. Kentucky state law prohibits any interference from a breast-feeding mother.
"You're just trying to do something special and normal, but you're being treated like a second-class citizen," said Maren McGimsey.
"You have a country that sees breasts only for sexual purposes."
Applebee's international guest relations manager Alex Bressett said the restaurant's "policies regarding breast-feeding are consistent with the laws of the states in which we operate."
as a mother who breastfed both my kids,I know firsthand what a complicated and fragile issue.
ReplyDeleteWhen I nursed in public, I tried my best to ensure that I and Conner/Lilli were comfortable, but also that I took into consideration where I was and who was around. Most times I threw a blanket over my shoulder and it really was not a big deal. I have seen most other moms do that. and you know what? It doesn't interfere at all. I have seen other moms who prefer to let the whole shebang hang out while nursing. Which is lovely and fine when your traipsing through your house or at a La Leche meeting. But the truth is, it does make other people uncomfortable to see boobies out, whether they're being sucked on by a baby or hell even a grown man. It's unfortunate that's for sure, but why push it, just to push it? Who benefits from that?
I see this argument likened to the religious one. You want to nurse or don't want to, that's fine, but don't shove it in my face.
I don't believe Applebee's interfered or meant to interfere with this nursing mother and baby, they were just trying to make everyone happy. It's not like they banished her to the bathroom.
But what are you going to do? In a perfect world, we would all try to take into consideration other's feelings instead of just our own, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
(I hope some of that makes sense)
This is so ignorant. I mean come on. It's not like the lady was running around the restaurant flopping 'em out on other diners tables or anything.
ReplyDeleteBreast feeding is natural, and it goes a long distance to show the maturity level of anyone who has a "problem" with it.
Hey if you dont like what you see, look the hell the other way, no need to stare.
After all most teen agers run around these days with more hanging out all over the place than a mothers whom you can see part of the breast with a babies head attached to and covering the "giblets".
Good point, CSD. Not just teenagers, though. It's amazing how much indfensible flesh one must witness from day to day, all the while asking oneself: Why?
ReplyDeleteHey guys. Long time not see.
ReplyDeleteWell I have to say I personally am not on either side of the fence. I have a baby that is just now starting to ween herself and I know what a beautiful thing breastfeeding can be. BUT. The whole time my wife has been breast feeding she has not once breast fed in public. If we were going somewhere and it was time to nurse she would nurse her in the car before we went in or we would go home so the baby could nurse. That was her choice and she did not want to go around town and nurse in public. I personally feel like if you want to do it then its your decision at the same time you might want to think about the people around you. ALthough you find it a beautiful thing other people might not. Then again I say the same thing about the girls running around with their thong hanging out of hte back of their pants. If people were more considerate of others then silly things like this could be avoided all together.
Oh Ceece this comment made me laugh when I read it.Had to do a double take.
But the truth is, it does make other people uncomfortable to see boobies out, whether they're being sucked on by a baby or hell even a grown man.
I do take it you mean seeing boobies on a grown man?
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteEither/Or. Depends on your preference I guess ;-)
Yeah right, cover up moms, but no one stops the 10 year olds I see dressed like prostitutes? We all have different thresholds for modesty and decorum, but I'm totally in agreement with Courtney...modesty is the best policy in most things publicly. Isn't it about time for a neo-victorian prudishness to make a come-back?
ReplyDeleteHi Kevin - where have you been?
If the mother in question had expressed offense at the perversion displayed by diners who can only view breasts as sexual objects regardless of context, would the manager have asked them to shut up?
ReplyDeleteIs there anywhere more appropriate to feed a child than a restaurant?
Which constitutes a more palatable meal disruption: A baby quietly breastfeeding or a toddler spitting that third spoonful of mash potatoes across the table while wailing loudly enough to be heard in the parking lot?
I really don't get it. Not at all. Why should a woman have to hide something that is perfectly natural and normal in order to spare others from being offended? I for one might be offended by having someone nearby talking loudly on a cell phone, blowing his or her nose, or wolfing down mashed potatoes with an open mouth--but certainly not by a mother breast feeding.
ReplyDeleteWhen will people realize that there is nothing inherently dirty, evil or objectionable about the human body? The prudishness of our culture never ceases to amaze me.
I'm with you, Meatbe. I sometimes think we should occasionally require public nudity rather than consistently prohibiting it, if only as a means of getting over ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to imagine the number of societal ills that could be cured if people were just comfortable with their bodies.