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

[Anonymous]

12:18 - you might consider therapy for your anger issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Again, nice try but they are unrelated. We are talking about being discreet while breastfeeding in public in the US of A, not "white aristocrats in Europe," interracial couples holding hands, public urinating or public defecating. Can't you come up with compelling arguments about the subject at hand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

There is a very easy way to change the above statistics, stop having babies when you cannot afford them and stop having illegitimate babies. There is birth control and family planning available to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:18 - you might consider therapy for your anger issues.

No, I am just sick of the constant parade of women who don't pump during their lunch break and have to have another 45 minutes, paid, to pump and then have to leave early every day because of their kids. They re hired to do a job but they do not and leave the rest of us to clean up their shit and do their work. It is no wonder that women still make less per hour than their male counterparts. I pray someday soon, it will go back to being paid for what you do at the office not your private responsibilities and breastfeeding is a private responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yeah! Let sanity prevail.

[Anonymous]

Misogyny is always a little sadder when it comes from other women.

[Anonymous]

Who decides what discretion is?
http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/01/27/covering-up-is-a-feminist-issue/
or this:
http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1502195/PIOG_Breastfeeding_Offensive

Look -- I don't respond to a pump, at all. If my baby is hungry and I am in public, I am going to feed her. She won't accept being covered and will put on MUCH more of a show if I try. I don't care to show you my belly or my breasts any more than many people on this forum want to see them, but I AM going to feed my hungry infant and if that means someone staring my way might be able to guess that I'm nursing (when many can't), you'll just have to live with that.

[Anonymous]

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.

Adequate Parent - you actually wrote this? I'm surprised, but it doesn't fit your usual MO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

who would want to go to your home or your "club"? you sound like an uptight privileged jerk. i pump at work, with a hands-free bra, so that i can keep working as i am going. i also work every evening after leaving at 5 to pick up from daycare and almost every weekend. who do you think you are?

[Anonymous]

that's what I thought. When I suggested that 12:18 get counseling for anger management issues, I was referring to that post, not to yours.

[Anonymous]

AdequateParent wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:18 - you might consider therapy for your anger issues.

No, I am just sick of the constant parade of women who don't pump during their lunch break and have to have another 45 minutes, paid, to pump and then have to leave early every day because of their kids. They re hired to do a job but they do not and leave the rest of us to clean up their shit and do their work. It is no wonder that women still make less per hour than their male counterparts. I pray someday soon, it will go back to being paid for what you do at the office not your private responsibilities and breastfeeding is a private responsibility.

Just to be clear-- I am 12:18 and I'm not this poster, whom I hope is not my favorite web nuisance buddy.

I breastfed and pumped, probably exposed a nipple to at least 50% of the DC population, and like most of the mothers you just insulted, I find your commentary sad.

But in response to 12:20, you're right. I harbor deep and fiery anger at all fact-resistant ninnies.

That includes anti-breastfeeding ninnies and anti-fact ninnies.

Yet another example of why 'signing in' is bullshit.

[Anonymous]

AdequateParent wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You're right. A federally-owned museum that is part of a huge public museum system and subject to the same policies, and that has a well-staffed general counsel's office managed to have an under-the-radar policy that violates federal law. Not only that, this piece of the federal bureaucracy managed to change a regulation and get approval to make the change public in less than a week. And it makes perfect sense that this museum was the same one that has the best preschool in the feds' system and has a huge number of female staff, many of whom are progressive art school grads who buy pictures of boobs and use words like "reify."

Why do people cling to reasons to be angry when there is no evidence?

How about being glad that in this day and age, no institution like the Smithsonian would dare to have an illegal policy?

LI am not going to argue with you, except to say that you don't have all of the details. And I am THRILLED that the situation has turned out this way. That is all.

[Anonymous]

Didn't have time to read all the posts, but I have nursed all OVER those museums. Air and Space, Portrait Gallery, American Indian, Natural History, you name it, I've nursed there. On benches, on the floor, where-ever. Never had one person say anything to me. Didn't realize I was in violation of their policies all that time! DH is actually an SI employee, and I just told him about this. His reaction was the same as many of the PPs, "have they seen the PICTURES there? Breastfeeding is nothing!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:18 - you might consider therapy for your anger issues.

No, I am just sick of the constant parade of women who don't pump during their lunch break and have to have another 45 minutes, paid, to pump and then have to leave early every day because of their kids. They re hired to do a job but they do not and leave the rest of us to clean up their shit and do their work. It is no wonder that women still make less per hour than their male counterparts. I pray someday soon, it will go back to being paid for what you do at the office not your private responsibilities and breastfeeding is a private responsibility.

Well, fortunately you are in the minority, or at least not in a policy making role. And if you are, that you are outnumbered. You also based on your post know nothing about pumping. Your point of view, whether you are male or female, is misogynistic and very angry. We get it, some breastfeeding mother got promoted and you didn't and you have an axe to grind and a big chip on your shoulder. That's YOUR problem though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:18 - you might consider therapy for your anger issues.

No, I am just sick of the constant parade of women who don't pump during their lunch break and have to have another 45 minutes, paid, to pump and then have to leave early every day because of their kids. They re hired to do a job but they do not and leave the rest of us to clean up their shit and do their work. It is no wonder that women still make less per hour than their male counterparts. I pray someday soon, it will go back to being paid for what you do at the office not your private responsibilities and breastfeeding is a private responsibility.

Well, fortunately you are in the minority, or at least not in a policy making role. And if you are, that you are outnumbered. You also based on your post know nothing about pumping. Your point of view, whether you are male or female, is misogynistic and very angry. We get it, some breastfeeding mother got promoted and you didn't and you have an axe to grind and a big chip on your shoulder. That's YOUR problem though.

This is too funny. I'm not the PP you are responding to but I love how you declare that person to have a chip on their shoulder and identify it precisely, as if that's not about you. Classic.