Breastfeeding in public: The debate comes to Gloucester

“They're breasts. Most women have them. I can't believe how uptight and repressed people are in the UK. Wouldn't bother me if folk wanted to sit around in their skinsuits while I ate at the next table.”

“Oh *** - we need a law for this??
Great that the do gooders have wasted thousands of pounds getting another bit of legistaltion on the books
Why cant people just show good behaviour and ask if its ok? It should be up to the cafe or restaurant - I would have said no - she soulds like a gueilla mum - me. me me.”

“This is a well informed article following up this incident. It's a shame it happens at all given that Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Supporters Network and Gloucestershire PCT work together to promote the Gloucestershire Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme for local businesses and public services.

If you are a mum looking for somewhere welcoming to breastfeed your child in Gloucestershire visit: http://tinyurl.com/9mzqyvq

GBSN groups are available for support across the county: http://tinyurl.com/9lrmh6f”

“@ adrian2010 May I say how much I enjoyed your post. It was witty and made me laugh, especially the especially when the security guard replied "yeah we also have art showing war, murder and suffering we don't want this in here."

If you haven't seen it already I viewed another video posted by blooz http://tinyurl.com/8dmyjk2 It features a similar character and scenario. I think you might enjoy that to.

The law says 'it is sex discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding' and 'includes refusing to provide a service, providing a lower standard of service or providing a service on different terms.' I am not a legal eagle, but requiring the mother to use separate facilities is providing a service on different terms and would be providing a lower standard of service because you would be unable to see the exhibits from there.
Consequently when the woman security guard continued "we don't want this in here also so please use the facilities supplied." At that point she and the art gallery were breaking the law.”

“I'm not an expert in law. In my opinion a business property should not be classified as public space as it is not the public that pays for the rent, rates, heating, lighting of said premises. Hence the reason the owners should be able to dictate what does and what does not occur on their property. A shop, restaurant, cinema, art gallery, whatever should not be classified as a public space because it is not a public space.

I'm not against breast feeding in public, I am against having decisions foisted upon people by an over zealous government. Those businesses that wish to allow this could still do so, and would do so without intervention from the law.

When you enter a private car park you normally enter into a contract with the car park owners stating their terms and conditions for using their car park, so why is this any different to when you enter a shop, etc?

As for feeding a baby in a department store (as per one of the examples later on in the article), when I'm hungry I walk out of the department store and go and eat somewhere else. I dont start having a picnic in the middle of the store. If the baby is hungry and needs feeding, leave the store and go into a public space to feed it. The baby wont starve in the time it takes to leave the store. It may be an inconvenience to do this but then so it is when I'm hungry in the supermarket but have to wait until I've bought the goods and left the store before eating said goods!”

“QUOTE:by chanty79Monday, October 08 2012, 11:01PM
"honslknjklyt and spindles12- Do you see a breast visible in this picture? No so whats the problem? I cant even see any tummy I mean its just ridiculous that anyone would find this offensive.....

If you are offended by a woman and baby breastfeeding then perhaps it would be best if you stayed at home or better still take your meal to the cafe/restaurant toilet.

Finally and quite simply dont look if it offends you so much! (although what you are offended by mystifies me...)"

Nowhere in my messages have I said that I am offended or that I have a hidden agenda and wish to ban all babies from restaurants. I fed both my children for ten months so I have no reason to stop other women feeding theirs, or be offended by it. The problem I have is that the woman is almost intending to draw attention to herself by what she is wearing and that HOWEVER MUCH IT MAY BE LAWFUL, my feelings are that if she and other women wore more appropriate clothing, not only would it preserve THEIR dignity but would make the situation more comfortable for the people who perhaps have no experience of breastfeeding, whether in public or private and find it inappropriate and embarrassing.

If you were out with an elderly relative and the woman on the next table started feeding her baby, would you say "it doesn't matter that you feel embarrassed or offended Grandma, that woman has the right to feed her baby wherever and whenever she wants, so put up with it" . How would you explain to inquisitive children what she was doing? I have nothing against women feeding their babies in public, if that's what they want, I just don't see why they have to do it in a way that says "Up yours, I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm doing it,so there". From my experience of breastfeeding,they're likely to have two big wet stains on their clothes just thinking about the next feed so presumably they won't mind walking around as if they're in a wet t-shirt competition either. All I ask is for them to show a bit of dignity, not only for themselves but for the sake of everyone around them.

People have been banging on about breastfeeding being a natural thing to do but so is a man scratching his crotch, picking his nose or playing with himself but that doesn't mean that it's OK for him to do it in public.”

“@disco2disco Regardless of sentiment your post seems to be based on a wrong understanding of the facts. The article states that women are by law protected in public places such as parks, shops, restaurants, cinemas, sports and leisure facilities, public buildings and when using public transport.

Overlooking the fact that this case occurred in a restaurant; a department store is a public building for the purpose of the law. You are entitled to your opinion and even though I disagree with it, I would defend your right to have it. However even if in your opinion a department store has every right to ask the women not to breast feed, the law says different.

When the Breathalyser and drink driving laws were first introduced people were outraged. 'Big Brother' was invading their cars, forcing them to give medical samples, and seeking to bankrupt rural pubs to the detriment of 'Olde Englands' established culture. There would be a greater fuss now if any government sought to abolish that legislation. Likewise in time this law will be accepted as only right and proper, and people will wonder what all the fuss was about.”

“What a waste of media space. If you are going to do something that you are legally entitled to do, just do it and stop wasting everybody else's time moaning that some ppl don't understand the law.”

“Bonkim2003 "DAMO1089 - male chauvinist - women had always fed their babies breast-milk - only became out of fashion - women have to do more of it to preserve their freedom. Why do you lot think it is unnatural or unsightly?"

I was actually mocking the people who are against a woman's right to breastfeed. Sorry if it came across differently.”

“Why should a business not dictate what its customers can and cannot do in its premises? Its not a public place its a private building that allows the general public to enter on the condition that these people agree to its terms and conditions. So in the case of the department store they have every right in my opinion to ask the women not to breast feed their just as I'm sure the department store would tell myself not to eat in their store either.

I certainly did not know that there was legislation regarding this and am now wondering what other laws I could be breaking unbeknown to me!”