Posted on 11/21/2006 4:00:04 PM PST by kingattax
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - Carrying signs with slogans such as "Best in-flight meal ever," scores of mothers breast-fed their babies at airports around the country Tuesday in a show of support for a woman who was ordered off a plane for nursing her daughter without covering up.
"It's about raising consciousness about our culture's sexualization of the breast. Breast-feeding needs to be supported wherever and whenever it happens. Babies don't know the meaning of `wait,'" said Chelsea Clark, 31, wearing a "Got breast milk?" T-shirt as she nursed her 9-week-old son at the Burlington airport.
About 25 women turned out for the "nurse-in" at the airport, parking themselves near a ticket counter in a peaceful — but not-so-quiet — demonstration. Similar protests were held at airports in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, Tenn.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Hartford, Conn.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Louisville, Ky.
Some of the women carried signs that read, "Don't be lactose intolerant" and "Breasts — Not just for selling cars anymore."
On Oct. 13, Emily Gillette, 27, of Santa Fe, N.M., was ordered off a Freedom Airlines plane about to take off from the Burlington airport after a flight attendant asked her to cover up while she was breast-feeding her year-old daughter.
She had been sitting on the New York-bound plane — which was three hours late in leaving — when she began nursing. The flight attendant handed her a blanket, but she refused it. She was removed from the plane along with her husband and child.
The airline later disciplined the unidentified employee. But "lactivists" and women's rights supporters were outraged, and Gillette filed a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.
"It's a basic human thing that we are doing and we should be able to do it in public without being kicked off planes, without being told to sit in bathrooms," said Susan Parker, 30, who participated in a demonstration at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Conn., along with 10-month-old daughter Anna.
Gillette herself joined about 30 women, children and fathers at the Albuquerque airport. "When women are harassed for breast-feeding, a woman can end up feeling ashamed and she shouldn't," she said, tears welling in her eyes.
A the Nashville airport, about 25 mothers, fathers and children took part in a demonstration, holding signs that said "Breast fed is best fed" and "Best in-flight meal ever." About 40 mothers nursed their babies at the Portland, Ore., airport.
Passers-by called out words of encouragement at the Columbus, Ohio, airport, where about a dozen women sat on benches and on the floor, some breast-feeding.
"I think you should be discreet," Nell Gaupel said upon seeing the demonstration in Louisville, Ky.
Marnie Glickman, right, breast-feeds her daughter, Calliope, while Rachel Brusseau, middle, breast-feeds her son, James, and Chanda Hall, left, holds her daughter, Lucy in front of the Delta Airlines gate at Portland
What a bunch of boobs
People searching for a cause.
This seems to be a bit much.
My wife breast fed all three of our children in the 80's and 90's. But she did it discreetly out of consideration for others who might not understand. Today everything has got to be "in your face."
no pun intended :)
Talk about a Happy Meal.
These activists seem to completely miss the point that breasts ARE in fact sexual organs. Women should be allowed to buy themselves a size DD rack, and flaunt them suggestively in revealing clothing and that's feminist empowerment- "embrace your sexuality". Even breast cancer advocates exploit the inherent sexuality of breasts with a innuendo-based campaign called "Feel Your Boobies". So if breasts are only "for food", what's the point in all that? Breasts are for sex when they say so, and for food when they say so, and ne'er the twain meet, or the rest of us are "preverts"?!
Unfortunately this is the same side of the aisle that calls people uptight for decrying the increasing societal sexualization of young children, which is particularly rampant in marketing. So were not supposed to think anything is wrong with a 3 or 4 year old holding a Bratz doll and wearing a "Princess" haltertop while she is breastfeeding in public? Meanwhile, one year later they're trying to teach sex-ed to this same tot in kindergarten!
A quote from an episode of "Sex in the City" sums it up succinctly: "If they're old enough to ask for it, they're too old to have it!"
Are they flying Hooters Airlines?
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