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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think KLM's breastfeeding 'policy' is absurd?

695 replies

Celebelly · 16/07/2019 20:25

'Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this.'

This was posted on their official Twitter today.

'Permitted'. Thank god it's 'permitted' to feed your child.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

OP posts:
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15
quietcontentment · 18/07/2019 09:41

I personally think this statement was made for those who are likely to take offence at breastfeeding and make a fuss about it. Its to the point quite starkly to make sure these people dont have a leg to stand on if they complain.
Many people dont have an issue with breast feeding so yes the wording sounds bonkers, but for those who to have an issue with it they are being told very clearly where KLM stand.

weaningwoes · 18/07/2019 09:52

@Somersetlady

You know that breasts ARE sexual too right?

Actually, mine really aren't. I never had much use for my breasts before breastfeeding - not much to look at, very minimal sensitivity, and when men wanted to fiddle, fondle, suck or kiss them, I used to feel nothing but resignation/irritation and try to direct them elsewhere (i.e. somewhere that actually made me feel sexy rather than just tickly and annoyed). Big shock for you, NOT ALL WOMEN'S BODIES ARE THE SAME!

Breastfeeding was brill for me because, for the first time ever, I actually loved my breasts, and felt liberated from the othered feeling that people reading sex into them gave me. Now people can think what they like - I know what my breasts are for and they're brilliant, useful things.

Breast stimulation does, of course, produce oxytocin. But oxytocin is not inherently sexual. Sex produces oxytocin, but so - brace yourself for another big shock - does breastfeeding. Oxytocin is called the love hormone, or the bonding hormone, not the sexytimes hormone.

rockingchaircandle · 18/07/2019 09:57

How do all these people who are so offended by seeing a breast do it's intended job (breasts that are either deliberately sexy & provocative, or too big and floppy) think they got here?

Even if their mums/ grans didn't breast feed the vast majority of their maternal ancestors did. Because it's completely natural! And there's something unpleasant & unnatural about the people making out it's offensive.

Somersetlady · 18/07/2019 09:57

@weaningwoes maybe that's why i prefer my feeding to be discreet. When not feeding i do enjoy my breast during sex? So i feel they are personal to me and i prefer to only share them with my husband.

weaningwoes · 18/07/2019 10:04

@Somersetlady

@weaningwoes maybe that's why i prefer my feeding to be discreet. When not feeding i do enjoy my breast during sex? So i feel they are personal to me and i prefer to only share them with my husband.

It may well be. which is a reason very personal to you, and totally your call. What is not OK is the suggestion other breastfeeding women should bow to arbitrary and variable societal standards of 'decency' and a general preoccupation with sexualising women's bodies if they feel differently.

weaningwoes · 18/07/2019 10:05

There are women who feel their hair is sexual and only want to share it with their husband. Fine for them. Not fine to impose it on me or suggest I am 'misbehaving' to have my whole head out.

HenSolo · 18/07/2019 10:07

Also, for the record, my FIL would also be offended by the sight of a breastfeeding woman. He would also be offended by the sight of a gay couple kissing or a Muslim person existing and in no way would I expect anyone to pander to these archaic beliefs of his.

Baguetteaboutit · 18/07/2019 10:10

Don't forget the foot fetishists - we can't risk that the chap in aisle 22 isn't made all uncomfortable by the militant flashishing of toe and ankle.

MonkeyTrap · 18/07/2019 10:14

Ahh the issue we have is we’re dealing with puritans....

gifdaft · 18/07/2019 10:16

YANBU

Although several years ago I was on a train from Edinburgh to London and the woman facing me on the other side of the carriage was breastfeeding her child with both breasts out.

I did feel uncomfortable at that as it felt unnecessary. The people facing her directly had to bury their faces in their books and it was all distinctly uncomfortable. Why she had to her other breast exposed completely I’ll never know 😂

EmmaLouisLou · 18/07/2019 10:19

I think the offended party should cover their head not the baby. My sons wouldn’t feed if there was something over their heads when I was breastfeeding. I thought it was against the law to discriminate against breastfeeding? Better to speak to whoever finds it offensive and educate them than mention to the mother.

weaningwoes · 18/07/2019 10:29

Although several years ago I was on a train from Edinburgh to London and the woman facing me on the other side of the carriage was breastfeeding her child with both breasts out

Did you bollocks.

sashh · 18/07/2019 10:32

Did anyone see the response of the woman who had flown Virgin? The flight attendant saw her feeding and responded by bringing her a 2 litre bottle of water.

Percypigparade · 18/07/2019 10:42

How are you supposed to manage a 2 litre bottle while feeding a baby?

Ifeelbloodyawful · 18/07/2019 10:57

I know it was pages and pages ago but...

Only yesterday I saw two men walking through the park and eating fish and chips while looking around proudly, flaunting their cod.

...made me spit out my tea! Grin

BibbleBrain · 18/07/2019 10:57

I actually feel for KLM as they were screwed whatever they did. I think their press officer probably tried to take a balanced position and has come a cropper.

TBH i breastfed my first on a BA flight and there was a guy behind me who rolled his eyes when we sat in club Europe with a baby. I covered up out of personal preference but I felt he was waiting for an excuse to moan!

MonkeyTrap · 18/07/2019 10:58

I wouldn’t moan at the size of the bottle. I’d be thrilled by the gesture. You normally have to pay for a drink on a flight!

LaurieMarlow · 18/07/2019 11:01

I actually feel for KLM as they were screwed whatever they did

Well no.

They could have told the professionally offended to grow up. Passengers can be difficult. It’s the airlines job to deal with them.

LaMarschallin · 18/07/2019 11:13

They could have told the professionally offended to grow up. Passengers can be difficult. It’s the airlines job to deal with them.

Well, it's airline's job to make money, really.
So they should want to attract as many passengers as possible.
I'm not saying it's ethically right or anything, but businesses exist to make money. Not to facilitate breastfeeding.
However nice that might be.
So they need to try to make the "professionally offended" want to travel with them too.

LaurieMarlow · 18/07/2019 11:22

Well, it's airline's job to make money, really

Well sure, but there are human standards to be maintained.

It’s a rabbit hole we’ve already gone down, but what if the professionally offended was offended at the sight of a gay or disabled person?

Should they have tried to placate him then, because they want him to travel with them and they seek to make money?

AngeloMysterioso · 18/07/2019 11:25

So many people are saying that women covering up when they breastfeed is a compromise... I thought a compromise was when both parties in a conflict made concessions to reach an agreement?
So how is Offended Dave compromising by forcing Breastfeeding Susan to feed her kid under a blanket?

AllSweetnessAndLight · 18/07/2019 11:26

I love how some people think a teenage boy would be embarrassed by breastfeeding. I bet if you checked their internet history, these same teenagers are viewing a lot worse online. They may not be as innocent as you're make out. 🙄

Bananallama858 · 18/07/2019 11:32

Cabin crew are taught to encourage BF especially during take off and landing as a comfort when they are experiencing the quick change in altitude and pressure. However safety would never be compromised so if over 2, the child has to been in their own seat during those critical phases of flight. I doubt a member of cabin crew would ever tell you to stop BF unless safety was compromised.

LaMarschallin · 18/07/2019 11:33

Should they have tried to placate him then, because they want him to travel with them and they seek to make money?
That really wasn't what I was saying.
Just that it's not the airline's job to "deal" with difficult people and "tell them to grow up".
It's their job to try and make as many passengers as possible happy and get their further business.
I said it wasn't necessarily ethically right.
But it's not the airline's job to educate people about breastfeeding and make them understand what a really good, sensible thing it is.
It's to get all their passengers to their destinations safely and to hope they pay them to travel with them again.

LaurieMarlow · 18/07/2019 11:34

So many people are saying that women covering up when they breastfeed is a compromise

It's an interesting point to raise and it reveals that on some level these people think bfing in public is an indecent thing to do. Which doesn't actually surprise me.

So we'll 'let' it happen, so long as there's a cover and that's the compromise.