Protected by Ohio Law, Breast-Feeding Moms Still Feel Blast of Public Disapprobation
In Ohio, state law recognizes the rights of mothers to breastfeed in public.
But that doesn’t prevent individuals from complaining about an activity some view as offensive, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
At least two moms are in the headlines right now after such confrontations.
Bonnie Morris says she was discreetly nursing at an American Eagle Outfitters store in Easton yesterday while her older child shopped when an employee urgently suggested that she do so in a dressing room. A store spokeswoman says the worker simply intended to offer her an option of privacy, but Morris said she felt pressured to move or leave.
“The ironic thing is, we walked past Victoria’s Secret to get there, and there are just boobs everywhere,” she said. “I wasn’t even showing mine. I was using them for what they’re made for.”
Meanwhile, another mom nursing last week at the Norwalk City Pool was confronted by a supervisor after other patrons complained about what they called a “disgusting” activity, Fox News reported.
Chrissy Houtz met Monday morning with the city’s law director, Stuart O’Hara, who says he is researching to determine appropriate guidelines “balancing between the competing interests of the breast-feeding mother and other patrons of the aquatic center who are offended by that type of activity.”
The dispute has also been covered by the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail newspaper.
