Sometimes I Forget that Breastfeeding Involves a Secondary Sexual Organ
When I went on Fox and Friends and Dr Keith Ablow talked about breasts as secondary sexual organs I tried to contain myself. For many people ears, necks and toes are highly erotic but we don’t have laws to cover them them up.
We do have laws that allow women to feed their children anywhere that women are allowed to be. So basically no, you may not feed your infant son in a men’s locker room. I’m willing to call this reasonable.
Now, before you confuse me for a lactivist understand that although I support your entitlement to nurse freely I think that manners matter and I’d like to see women of older children nurse discreetly. If you have an infant I don’t care if you have to plop both breasts on a dinner plate to get the job done. When you’re nursing a child who can tie their own shoes I’d prefer you were somewhere private, not glaring at me in a restaurant.
We need lactivists. We need batshit crazy extremists who will nurse their seven year olds at Applebees. Sometimes you’ve got to be outrageous to make some changes.
In a statement given to KHOU 11 News, Pure Fitness for Women said: “Our company strongly supports and encourages mothers to pursue the healthy development and nutrition of their children through breastfeeding. We believe breastfeeding is one of the most important, natural and personal ways for a mother to bond with her baby.”
According to the statement, the gym, as a private business, was also entrusted with the care and custody of minor children in the Kid’s Club area.
Velazquez said several children, including an 11-year-old boy, were in the Kids Club at the time Montgomery-Schlanser was breastfeeding.
“We are responsible for both male and female children from the ages of three months to 12 years old,” the gym said in a statement. “Without express written consent from a parent or legal guardian of these minor children, we feel we do not have the right to dictate what the parent or guardian determines to be appropriate for their children.”
I must say I support this nurse in. As wacky as I think they can be I think it’s important that we dispel the myth that breastfeeding is a sexual activity and that children somehow need to be shielded from it.