Survey of Attitudes towards Breastfeeding in Public
June 7, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, nursing in public
When one mother was harassed for breastfeeding on federal property, she feared retribution if she tried to assert her rights under federal law. Instead, she turned her energy to a positive investigation of attitudes toward breastfeeding in public. She conducted parallel surveys of Grand Valley State University students and La Leche League group members and compared the results. The results speak for themselves:
I am a GVSU alumni, and member of the West MI community. The values of this area are so conservative, but I didn’t think it extended as far as breastfeeding- some of the results of the pol were surprising to me. It seems most of the Moms I know in GR breastfed their babies, but perhaps it is because we are all at the same workplace and influence and encourage each other. Interesting study!
I was a breastfed baby and I am currently nursing my 3 month old baby and it still concerns me to read statistics that suggests the ignorance that lies in our culture to this day. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing a mother can offer her baby, yet to do so in public may be looked upon as scornful. What a shame….