GOLD Learning Speakers

Mothers are told that breastfeeding is ‘best’ and that their milk is magic and the gold standard in nutrition; they are encouraged to feed their baby on demand, be attached and attentive to their babies, and breastfeed “anytime, anywhere,” yet they are hit with dirty looks, rude comments, or demands to cover, move, or stop what they are doing. These mothers have been told they are doing something disgusting, they’ve been harassed for ‘being inappropriate’, yelled at for ‘exposing’ themselves and been accosted by staff and onlookers. Some have even faced arrest, simply for meeting the needs of their breastfeeding child. Why does this happen? Where does it happen? Who does it happen to? And what happens after the harassment? Further, what can health care professionals do to help mothers who have faced or are facing discrimination due to breastfeeding?

Mothers are told that breastfeeding is ‘best’ and that their milk is magic and the gold standard in nutrition; they are encouraged to feed their baby on demand, be attached and attentive to their babies, and breastfeed “anytime, anywhere,” yet they are hit with dirty looks, rude comments, or demands to cover, move, or stop what they are doing. These mothers have been told they are doing something disgusting, they’ve been harassed for ‘being inappropriate’, yelled at for ‘exposing’ themselves and been accosted by staff and onlookers. Some have even faced arrest, simply for meeting the needs of their breastfeeding child. Why does this happen? Where does it happen? Who does it happen to? And what happens after the harassment? Further, what can health care professionals do to help mothers who have faced or are facing discrimination due to breastfeeding?

Mothers are told that breastfeeding is ‘best’ and that their milk is magic and the gold standard in nutrition; they are encouraged to feed their baby on demand, be attached and attentive to their babies, and breastfeed “anytime, anywhere,” yet they are hit with dirty looks, rude comments, or demands to cover, move, or stop what they are doing. These mothers have been told they are doing something disgusting, they’ve been harassed for ‘being inappropriate’, yelled at for ‘exposing’ themselves and been accosted by staff and onlookers. Some have even faced arrest, simply for meeting the needs of their breastfeeding child. Why does this happen? Where does it happen? Who does it happen to? And what happens after the harassment? Further, what can health care professionals do to help mothers who have faced or are facing discrimination due to breastfeeding?

Despite advances in human rights legislation in Canada and the US, women still face harassment and discrimination when they breastfeed in public. In the last 15 years in Alberta, Canada, reports of discrimination escalated even as policies were adopted to affirm and support the right of women and children to breastfeed in public. In 2014 the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton (BACE) received a grant from the Alberta Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund to further development of a tool kit for Breastfeeding Friendly spaces. The project included policy, procedure and training development for stakeholders and a public education campaign. Public attitudes towards breastfeeding in public, including in specific spaces where discrimination had occurred - swimming pools, the public library - were measured prior to the implementation of a Breastfeeding Friendly program that included policy articulation, staff training, and public education. Public attitudes were measured after program implementation. This presentation will explore the impact of the implementation of Edmonton's Breastfeeding Friendly project on the potential for families to feel safe and welcome to breastfeed in Edmonton's public spaces.