Nurse-in at Hirshhorn on 2/12 from 10-12

[Anonymous]

I just called the following:

Journalists: Office of Communications and External Affairs, Smithsonian
•Web: Newsdesk
•Phone: [phone]

I spoke to someone who was new, and had no idea about the incident or the policy. She has promised to call me back though.

[Anonymous]

Adequate Stepparent in Poughkeepsie here:

DC Moms-- it's cool to see so many people speaking up for women's rights after all of the stories about "shallow" issues. It would be amazing to harness this energy to make a friendlier environment for women.

Here's a link to a resource about paid leave, which most mothers in this country don't have, and the related problems that working women face. A lot of them, like lack of leave, mean that women can't even start to breastfeed. It's just unacceptable in this day and age.

http://www.momsrising.org/maternity


Here are some stats that really blew me away.

* Having a baby is a leading cause of "poverty spells" in the U.S. -- when income dips below what's needed for basic living expenses.
* In the U.S., 49% of mothers cobble together paid leave following childbirth by using sick days, vacation days, disability leave, and maternity leave.
* 51% of new mothers lack any paid leave -- so some take unpaid leave, some quit, some even lose their jobs.
* The U.S is one of only 4 countries that doesn't offer paid leave to new mothers -- the others are Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
* Paid family leave has been shown to reduce infant mortality by as much as 20% (and the U.S. ranks a low 37th of all countries in infant mortality).


There is a bunch of legislation about this. Also, I found the National Women's Law Center site as I was looking into this. They work on issues around breastfeeding so they could probably give advice.

http://www.nwlc.org/

We should be fighting for our rights but when I think about all of the women who could never take a day off to bring a baby to a museum, I just really want to do something.

Thanks to those who bring positive energy to these discussions.

[Anonymous]

I called the Hirrshorn as well. When the operator asked what I was calling in reference to, I told her policy regarding nursing in the museum. She responded with, "humm, I got a message about that yesterday I think."

I asked to be transferred to someone regarding museum policy, was bounced around, and ended up in someone's voicemail.

Really hard to determine what the policy is!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Moms should not be allowed to nurse in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Inter-racial couples should not be allowed to hold hands in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Moms who want people to be comfortable with breast feeding should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public breastfeeding on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Inter-racial couples who want people to be comfortable with them holding hands should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public hand holding by inter-racial couples on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I'm Jennifer in the Hirshhorn Museum's Communications and Marketing Department.

With regards to the breastfeeding incident, we have responded to the mother’s complaint and have made our security staff aware of the federal law allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location. We regret that this incident occurred and we apologize for the frustration it has caused.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello!

I'm Jennifer in the Hirshhorn Museum's Communications and Marketing Department.

With regards to the breastfeeding incident, we have responded to the mother’s complaint and have made our security staff aware of the federal law allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location. We regret that this incident occurred and we apologize for the frustration it has caused.

Thank you.

Jennifer,

I am one of the people who has been pushing that this nurse in is preemptive without a response from the museum, but a post by an unregistered user is not going to make them believe the Hirshhorn is really responding. A press release, a statement from the mother, or even registering an account here with your business email attached would be more credible. I'm sorry this has blown up like this and wish more level heads had stepped in to handle this process before it blew up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moms should not be allowed to nurse in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Inter-racial couples should not be allowed to hold hands in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Moms who want people to be comfortable with breast feeding should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public breastfeeding on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Inter-racial couples who want people to be comfortable with them holding hands should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public hand holding by inter-racial couples on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Nice try but they are unrelated. it should be legal to breastfeed in public -- discreetly. Or just use common sense and do it discreetly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello!

I'm Jennifer in the Hirshhorn Museum's Communications and Marketing Department.

With regards to the breastfeeding incident, we have responded to the mother’s complaint and have made our security staff aware of the federal law allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location. We regret that this incident occurred and we apologize for the frustration it has caused.

Thank you.

Thank you for posting the good news!

[Anonymous]

Oh for FUCK's SAKE.

I breastfed 14 months. I also work downtown 2 days a week. If I have a few moments to slip into a museum during lunch, I do not want to be overrun by pie-wagons from Chantilly wielding Graco strollers.

Please return to your hovels.

[Anonymous]

Our statement has been posted to our official Facebook page and I invite you to discuss this incident further over there:

http://www.facebook.com/hirshhorn

Thanks,
-Jennifer
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello!

I'm Jennifer in the Hirshhorn Museum's Communications and Marketing Department.

With regards to the breastfeeding incident, we have responded to the mother’s complaint and have made our security staff aware of the federal law allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location. We regret that this incident occurred and we apologize for the frustration it has caused.

Thank you.

Jennifer,

I am one of the people who has been pushing that this nurse in is preemptive without a response from the museum, but a post by an unregistered user is not going to make them believe the Hirshhorn is really responding. A press release, a statement from the mother, or even registering an account here with your business email attached would be more credible. I'm sorry this has blown up like this and wish more level heads had stepped in to handle this process before it blew up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moms should not be allowed to nurse in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Inter-racial couples should not be allowed to hold hands in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Moms who want people to be comfortable with breast feeding should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public breastfeeding on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Inter-racial couples who want people to be comfortable with them holding hands should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public hand holding by inter-racial couples on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Nice try but they are unrelated. it should be legal to breastfeed in public -- discreetly. Or just use common sense and do it discreetly.

Please explain how they are unrelated. Both used to be offensive to lots of people (though public breastfeeding was unoffensive for about 200k years before it became offensive . . . to white aristocrats . . . in Europe). Both are still offensive to some people. Both are protected by law. Or do you think that breastfeeding is more like urinating or defecating in public?

[Anonymous]

AdequateParent wrote:Registered poster here. I called the Hirshhorn a little after 10 this morning and left a voicemail. I just received a very gracious and informative call back from an administrator who said that he had been made aware of the incident, that it should never have happened, that the security guards are always informed of DC and federal law but that there had unfortunately been turnover, and that this was particularly unfortunate because Hirshhorn seeks to provide a hospitable and welcoming environment. He indicated that he had reached out to the woman who'd experienced this treatment. He also said that this was something that was important to the Hirshhorn, and that he hoped that other parents would come back and feel welcome and respected. Finally, he stated that he hoped to attend the event and let people know that Hirshhorn really means it when they say they're supportive.

So there you go.

In answer to your next question, I didn't write down his name and forgot it by the time the call ended, but I'm giving my word as an easily-identifiable crafter of parenting nonsense that I received this call.


LHS

Thank you. This was the wake-up call they needed to re-evaluate their policy and bring it up to date with federal law. I am impressed with the Hirrshorn.

[Anonymous]

AdequateParent wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

AdequateParent wrote:Registered poster here. I called the Hirshhorn a little after 10 this morning and left a voicemail. I just received a very gracious and informative call back from an administrator who said that he had been made aware of the incident, that it should never have happened, that the security guards are always informed of DC and federal law but that there had unfortunately been turnover, and that this was particularly unfortunate because Hirshhorn seeks to provide a hospitable and welcoming environment. He indicated that he had reached out to the woman who'd experienced this treatment. He also said that this was something that was important to the Hirshhorn, and that he hoped that other parents would come back and feel welcome and respected. Finally, he stated that he hoped to attend the event and let people know that Hirshhorn really means it when they say they're supportive.

So there you go.

In answer to your next question, I didn't write down his name and forgot it by the time the call ended, but I'm giving my word as an easily-identifiable crafter of parenting nonsense that I received this call.


LHS

Thank you. This was the wake-up call they needed to re-evaluate their policy and bring it up to date with federal law. I am impressed with the Hirrshorn.

I'm sorry that my post was unclear. Their policy has always been up to date with federal law, and it has not been re-evaluated due to this incident.

Unfortunately, this incident happened in spite of Hirshhorn's policy and in spite of federal law.

I, too, am impressed with their response. Calling me back and offering to answer my questions is pretty responsive in my book.

To clarify again, this incident did not change a policy.

I don't think this is accurate, and that some spin was involved. But that is irrelevent at this point, as a successful solution has been achieved

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moms should not be allowed to nurse in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Inter-racial couples should not be allowed to hold hands in public, even if it is legal, because it makes some people uncomfortable.

Moms who want people to be comfortable with breast feeding should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public breastfeeding on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Inter-racial couples who want people to be comfortable with them holding hands should only write letters about it, not do it. It is completely impossible that seeing public hand holding by inter-racial couples on a regular basis will normalize the practice to the point that no one notices.

Nice try but they are unrelated. it should be legal to breastfeed in public -- discreetly. Or just use common sense and do it discreetly.

This is excellent advice for sane, rational women who are breast feeding. But the feminazis involved in this nurse-in side show want publicity and they will be shouting, exposing their breasts and will be a laughing stock and the butt of late night comedians. This will not help but hinder their cause . This generation of mothers feel so entitled and next they will have a "pee-in" with their sons because they want them to be allowed to pee on sidewalks, wherever, because this is nature. In Europe little boys do this all the time. They will also call for a public latrine so their daughters can pee in public and then they will want to use Museum artwork, if flat, to change dirty diapers and throw them on the floor or leave them on a bench. These women have no shame, manners, or idea of decorum, public or private. If the directors of the Smithsonian.and the Hirshorn issues a press release this would not stop them from their "righteous" march.

It is all about them. They are one of the major problems women have today in the workplace. I am sick of the women who pump and how much time, with pay, they are allowed to have to pump. I think those of us who don't or can't pump, male and female, have as much right to free time off to not pump as they have to pump. These nutso breastfeeding women are zealots who give breastfeeding a bad name. This has nothing to do with women's rights but has everything to do with them and their perceived right to do whatever they wish. I thought I'd seen everything until I saw women pop out her boob in church and nurse. Thus far, they can't breastfeed anywhere they like in private, e.g., my home. or in dining room of my club. I'm sure this is where they will have their next nurse-in when one of them is told she isn't allowed to breastfeed in the club dining room, by the swimming pool, or on the golf course.

[Anonymous]

I am happy to see that this was addressed so quickly and so directly. I can only imagine how embarassed this mother was to be treated in such a patronizing fashion, and to be told to sit on a toilet to BF?

To the anti BF crowd out there, it is perfectly possible to BF in public without whipping out ones breasts, squirting milk all over the artwork, and without wearing a "hooter hider." I never exposed flesh in my years of public BF, and I did it in many of the smithsonians without incident.