to wish that one day, being prejudice against a breastfeeding mum will be the same as being prejudice against race, religion, sexuality, disability etc.?

[eggontoast]

Luckily, we have adopted laws in this country to prevent many kinds of discrimination. Unfortunately, it does not always work, but it does offer some degree of protection for those concerned. (OK, it may not stop people feeling racist for example, but they will put on a front, better than nothing I suppose. And, it does not stop everyone, I know, but at least they are taken to account for their actions (when caught).

I just feel that I, and others like me, are completely fair game to those who oppose bf so strongly that they will kick you out of their cafe, or off the bus they are driving.

To me, it is similar, not the same of course, as being able to ask someone to leave their bus or cafe because they are black or a lesbian.

I think there maybe something in the pipeline, but it just seems so far away.

I don't understand people saying that 'breastfeeding is a choice'.

So - what is the alternative - not to do it? Switch to formula to keep the antis happy?

By saying it's a choice, you're effectively saying that people have to stop doing it in order to stop the discrimination/prejudice.

How does that help?

I'm not it's the same as racism, homophobia, etc - but by saying it's a choice (which by definition you'd have to stop doing to stop the discrimination), you're leaving people without a choice.

Erm have I said that! BOSINOR, dont try putting words into my mouth that I clearly haven't said, if you look above, you will see that I have said, people of race, etc.. do NOT HAVE A CHOICE in being who they are!

We do have a choice in BF/FF our children, completely two different things, and tbh what a rude, and idiotic thing to say!

I am neither a racists or discriminatory person! WAY BELOW THE BELT! in trying to go down this line, as I have neither implied or said this on this!

I was purely talking about feeding methods, which is evident on here!

Sorry - it's not the same as racism, etc...

Right, I am off to boil my own head. I will come back on here when there is someone who understands analogy and the basic use of the English language.

Disliking breastfeeding is prejudice because it is a dislike of a facet of a fundamental aspect of our humanity.

Now going to hide thread, aS not going down this route with pathetic immature insults/digs I can at least see people CAN AND DO HAVE A CHOICE! in disliking something, that is not prejudice in any way!!!!!

But at least I can see both sides and not just have my BF hat on, and people who dont choose to or dislike something does not fit into a category!

and lol at boninor last post, because everything is back and white isn't it! Good grief!

I've breast-fed in many places, I hope reasonably discretely, and have never had a single negative look/comment. OTOH, when out with my sister, who was a wheelchair user, I often saw hate - people leaning out of cars screaming 'cripple', people ignoring her in shops...

I could avoid feeding in public - I didn't, but my sister, if she wanted a life, had to go out. I know who had the worst deal.

Have to laugh because all threads seem to go this way on MN at the moment.
Will pootle back to inane threads and hide yet another thread

Don't know about unreasonable but you are truly ignorant with no understanding of the reality of discrimination.

'I know who had the worst deal'

So a black person could have recieved worse than someone in a wheelchair, that doesn't make it ok to discriminate against someone in a wheelchair because someone else has a rawer deal.

OFFS My discriminations worse than your discrimination now?

cames back for a sec, discrimination is discrimination, and for me their is not a prescient as too how much ones discrimination is, is vile and deplorable and if people discriminated for anybodies non choice or any choice for that natter needs shot!

our world is already full of hatred without these imbeciles!

The point is, spicedgerkin, race or disability discrimination will last a lifetime - BF discrimination (which I've never seen anyway, though I know that this doesn't mean it doesn't exist) is only a very temporary part of life.

So people should put up and shut up because it only happens for a while, does the same apply to someone who is only temporarily in a wheelchair, they can face discrimination because it's only for a little while?

I BF both my children, had the odd comment but nothing that I, as an adult, couldn't deal with. I also have a disability and from first hand experience of both situations, they are just not comparable in my opinion. I BF my children until they were 18 months, I will have my disability for the rest of my life.

ha ha this is gonna kick off!

I dont agree, I dont classify this in any way as seriously as the issue of racism for example

I think the examples are few and far between re BF too, I never got any hostility

I just think its rather offensive to compare racism and its inherent horrors (lynching, genocide, segregation etc) to BF actually

get your priorities straight

I've just read the thread/news report about the charity shop incident.

I hope so too. It's about time firm protection was in place. If you are bf and out and about, where do you go to feed? In a toilet cubicle, not nice.

I totally agree porcamiseria. While I agree BF in public shouldn't be in any way the ridiculous 'taboo' some seem to find it, I don't see this as a sensible analogy at all.

Totally agree porcamiseria!

OK let's be sensible about this now.

Prejudice:
1.
an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2.
any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3.
unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, esp. of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group.

I think instances of being kicked out of a cafe/bus etc are rare - that's why they make national news. I have never heard personally, or second hand of anybody being ill-treated

Thirdly, analogising b/feeding to racism etc is inappropriate. End of. It is better to use the analogy of eating. An adult needs to eat, however they can choose to eat quietly at a table with their mouth closed or eat loudly, chewing loudly with their mouth wide open for the world and his mother to see. You must eat, you should eat when you are hungry but if you feel it is necessary to eat so that the whole world can see the masticated food making its way down your throat don't complain if someone pulls a face or sneers.

Try another analogy : sneezing. You have to sneeze when you have to sneeze, you can't stop it. but you can choose to cover your mouth or sneeze all over the person in front of you

For all those crying prejudice, you are also being prejudice - take a look at number 2 in the definition (taken from dictionary.com)

damnedchilblains, are you saying that bf is like eating with your mouth open or sneezing on other people?

no I'm not saying that, but thank you for asking and not just accusing, such a rare thing on mn .

I'm literally saying there are different ways to do it and some are more obvious than others. I don't think anybody at all (and even if they thought it wouldn't dare say it on mn) would say you shouldn't feed your baby, but somebody may look at you oddly if they feel you are being indiscreet (yep that again). The same way somebody may look at you because they feel the way you are eating isn't the right way.

The point was though that it is more appropriate to compare b/f to that than to having a disability.

It's not the same thing for crying out loud. A breast-feeding mother is not a distinct group she is merely exercising her right to do something that others choose not to. And how many BFing mothers get murdered because of it, or suffer severely threatening behaviour or risks to their lives. At most it can be a bit embarrassing.