Page 11 | Communication on new building - room available for 'chest feeding'

Sizzlysausage · 2024-01-18T10:01:46+00:00

I got an email today about our new building (I work at a university). This explained space had been put aside in the new building for 'breast and chest feeding.' I find this so ridiculous I just need somewhere to vent (don't dare do so to any of my colleagues)!

WomenShouldStillWinWomensSports · 18/01/2024 10:18

I'd actually raise this as an issue. The only acceptable terms are "baby feeding room" "infant feeding room" or a picture of a baby with no words. Infant feeding is for the child's benefit, not the gratification of random adults, they shouldn't be allowed to hijack it.

CanaryCanary · 18/01/2024 10:16

(And naming it a baby feeding room makes clear to women that there could be men in there as obv they can feed babies from bottles, personally when breastfeeding i preferred female only spaces - and back then could get them! - but at least people will know what to expect)

Restlessinthenorth · 18/01/2024 10:16

CanaryCanary · 18/01/2024 10:14

I read somebody on here say that she always tries to “out-woke” this kind of thing, and usually you can end up making an argument that actually a saner/more normal use of language is the least offensive option.

So in this case I’d reply politely asking to clarify: is this room only available for people who are feeding their children by lactation? Say that you’re concerned that this excludes people who for any reason, whether medical or personal choice, are feeding their babies using formula from bottles. Say you’re concerned this could be seen as judgmental or imposing expectations of lactation on parents. Maybe the room could be named “Baby feeding room” instead so we don’t exclude anybody?

you get the idea. Basically never directly attack the term “chest feeding”, talk instead about some other poor oppressed minority that’s at risk of being excluded.

Genius!

CanaryCanary · 18/01/2024 10:14

I read somebody on here say that she always tries to “out-woke” this kind of thing, and usually you can end up making an argument that actually a saner/more normal use of language is the least offensive option.

So in this case I’d reply politely asking to clarify: is this room only available for people who are feeding their children by lactation? Say that you’re concerned that this excludes people who for any reason, whether medical or personal choice, are feeding their babies using formula from bottles. Say you’re concerned this could be seen as judgmental or imposing expectations of lactation on parents. Maybe the room could be named “Baby feeding room” instead so we don’t exclude anybody?

you get the idea. Basically never directly attack the term “chest feeding”, talk instead about some other poor oppressed minority that’s at risk of being excluded.

StephanieSuperpowers · 18/01/2024 10:13

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Cheesehound · 18/01/2024 10:12

Chest feeding. How bloody ridiculous. Just another delusion that we’re all expected to accept. Absolutely not about the baby and all about the whims and needs of the chest feeding individual.

Original poster

Sizzlysausage · 18/01/2024 10:11

We're in London. I just don't know. I find it insulting and a bit exclusionary but really have no idea how others feel. We do have quite a few pronoun users.

OP posts:

Boiledbeetle · 18/01/2024 10:10

Sigh!

FrancescaContini · 18/01/2024 10:07

Which university is this? I think you’ll find that most of your colleagues will be in agreement - nobody really believes that “chest feeding” is the appropriate terminology.