Argonaut Online Opinion

WED, 19 FEB 2003

Breastfeeding is not a crime

The past is filled with misconceptions. Throughout history, people have promoted, lectured, written about and held tightly to beliefs that were later disproved by scientific evidence and are, in today’s world, thought to be completely outlandish.

The belief that bleeding was a cure-all to sickness or the idea that intelligence could be measured by skull size would now be considered archaic.

In true myth-dispelling fashion, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a bill to eliminate many of the misconceptions about breast-feeding in public.

Prior to House bill No. 235, which enables women to breastfeed in any public or private place “where she has the right to be,” the only breastfeeding legislation existing in Idaho allowed breastfeeding mothers exemption from jury duty.

Although the bill passed in the House, many of the comments from Idaho’s representatives uncovered the old beliefs of women breastfeeding in public. Some representatives voiced concern over women over-exposing themselves in public, a violation which could be misconstrued as violation of public indecency laws.

Unfortunately, many people still pass judgment mothers about breast-feeding in public.

Just over one year ago today, Tonya Kuhnhausen was thrown out of a Spokane courtroom for breastfeeding her baby, despite an existing law stating breastfeeding did not constitute indecent exposure.

In Indianapolis, current talk of legislation to protect a mother’s right to breastfeed in public was spawned after constituents experienced harassment for nursing their babies in public.

Even in Idaho, Boise mother Siri Wright was charged with contempt of court in 2000 for the continued breastfeeding of her daughter, whom she was naturally weaning. The law, which allowed nursing mothers exemption, was on the books, and eventually the charges were dropped.

Clearly, despite legislation regarding public breastfeeding, the public stigma still exists. The erroneous beliefs that women will abuse discretion or should not be allowed to breastfeed in public must desist.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization all recognize how important and beneficial breastfeeding is to both the mother and child. According to the AAP, breastfeeding decreases the chance for a laundry list of infant diseases including meningitis, Crohn’s disease and respiratory infection, among others.

Aside from health benefits, breastfeeding in public involves no preparation of formula by the mother and no excess waste from formula containers, both efficiency and environmental pluses.

The extensive benefits of breastfeeding are vast and well documented. Those who oppose public breastfeeding do so because of beliefs that breastfeeding is disruptive, indecent and preventable.

While some believe that breastfeeding belongs in bathrooms and private locations, one wouldn’t expect a mother to bottle-feed a hungry baby in a dirty restroom just as a person would not willingly leave a restaurant table to be served their entr�e in a bathroom stall. No person has the right to tell a mother how and where to feed her child.

Furthermore, breastfeeding is far from indecent, seeing as most mothers are not intending to show off their bodies, but are simply feeding their young. In nearly all cases, mothers are very discreet and use a baby blanket or their shirt to cover their bodies. This conduct is far from lewd.

Lastly, breastfeeding itself is not nearly as disruptive as people who make a fuss about nursing.

The legislation on breastfeeding is an instrumental step in dispelling the myths surrounding nursing in public. It should be well understood that this legislation is not establishing a new norm, but simply re-emphasizing and clarifying the rights of mothers to feed their young in public or private.

It’s now up to every citizen to embrace the right for mothers to breastfeed their children in public or private.

J.H.

Opinion Editor: Jennifer Hathaway Webmistress: Amanda J Hundt
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.885.7845

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