Honestly, I don't understand why people continue to harass breastfeeding mothers. I recently read Her Bad Mother's post
about her experience on a West Jet flight. It has generated a wealth of
responses (most of them supportive) and a host of letters to West Jet.
I have also added my voice in support. I breastfed my daughter for the
first eight months of her life. I would have breastfed for longer if I
hadn't gotten sick. But that is beside the point. I find it outrageous

that in this day and age, people think that it is acceptable, even
compassionate to ask a woman to "cover up" while breastfeeding.

Here is a copy of the letter I sent (with the blogger's name removed):

Dear Ms. Bentley,

I
am writing to ask for an explanation for an incident that happened
while on your airline. I find the treatment that this breastfeeding
mother received to be absolutely disgraceful, insulting, sexist and a
violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Here is the
blog post to which I am referring:

http://badladies.blogspot.com/2008/09/under-blanket.html

I
have read responses from your airline in the past that basically tell
women that other passengers' rights are being violated because they may
feel "uncomfortable". Too bad. The right of a woman to breastfeed
wherever and whenever she needs to trumps all others. Perhaps you
should start a policy of telling people who complain to look the other
way and leave the breastfeeding mothers alone? Your airline should have
a clear and coherent policy on this. The Ontario Human Rights
Commission does:

You have
rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to
breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from
nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should
not ask you to "cover up", disturb you, or ask you to move to another
area that is more "discreet".

from: Ontario Human Rights Commission website: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/pregnancy/index_html/view

Please respond at your earliest convenience. I know that a lot of parents are waiting to hear what you have to say.

Regards,

Michelle

I
sincerely hope that no other mothers have to endure this kind of
treatment. It makes a mother feel as though she should be embarrassed
or ashamed of something that she has an absolute right to do. It is
hard enough for most of us to get past our body issues and imposed
sense of modesty enough to breastfeed. We don't need anyone else
telling us to "cover up", implying that we are doing something that
NEEDS covering up.

I hope to get a response from West Jet (and
not just the canned response that they have been sending). I will post
it when I do. In the meantime, to Her Bad Mother,
I hope you know that you have my support and the support of many other
people as well. I hope that you get the apology that you deserve.

On a side note, I wonder what would happen if Peanut decided to feed Ernie
in public? Would she get stares? Would she be asked to cover up? Absurd
thought isn't it? Why would one even think of asking a two year old to
cover up? Well, why is it any different when one asks a mother to do
the same? I'd hate to think that I live in a country where people would
make anyone feel ashamed for breastfeeding.