The ‘Right’ To Breast Feed In Public
“MINISTERS are considering new laws to give women a right to breastfeed their babies in public and take statutory breaks at work to suckle their infants…
It would become an offence for anyone to stop a woman from breastfeeding in public, a change that has already been enacted in Scotland. It follows complaints from mothers that they have been accused of indecency and barred from breastfeeding when they have attempted to do so in public.
Employers would also have to allow mothers to take breaks each working day to breast feed.” (The Times)
Whilst mothers should be able to breast feed their babies for the six months recommended World Health Organisation, I think it would be a big mistake to make this into a “right”.
Mothers who want to breastfeed in public should be circumspect about it, as I am sure the vast majority are, but it does depend on the situation. Whenever possible, they should, and I am sure most would prefer to, go somewhere private to breastfeed. There should not be a “right” to breast feed in public, but an acceptance that it is all right to do so if no alternative provision is available.
Breastfeeding at work should not be a “right” either. All employees are entitled to 26 weeks (about six months) of ‘Ordinary Maternity Leave’ which can thus cover the large part of the recommended time spent breast feeding. Employees should be understanding of new mothers and provide the opportunity for breastfeeding or for expressing milk. But having it as a “right” simply opens the door for ridiculousness. Providing time for women to breast feed should be encouraged in employers, but not required by law.
Breastfeeding is something that new mothers should be encouraged to do, but it should be be a “right” of either the mother or the baby. Alternatives exist, and they should be used when the opportunity for breastfeeding is not available. It would be best if instead of making breastfeeding in public a “right”, more provision was made for new mothers to go somewhere private and do it instead.
Source: The Times
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