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It has been called the “most unnatural, natural thing in the world.” It has proven
scientific benefits, yet it is not possible for all to achieve. For thousands of years, it was very
common-place in every culture, and while it still is in some, it has sharply declined in the
Western world—especially since the early to mid-twentieth century.1 It is a hotly and heavily
debated practice by many groups, including professionals and lay-persons alike. It—one of the
most amazing, yet debated practices--is the practice of breastfeeding. A major lawsuit was
launched in 2006 against Delta Airlines by Emily Gillette. She was nursing her twenty-two
month old daughter on a flight. Her husband sat between her and the aisle, and she had the
window seat. Despite her discreteness, a flight attendant gave her a blanket and told her to cover
up. Gillette did not take the blanket and was told to get off the plane. Afterwards, in protest,
many nursing mothers showed up at Delta areas in airports to nurse their babies in public and
make a statement. Delta did formally apologize to Gillette because after all, a woman’s right to
publicly breastfeed her child is protected by federal law. Women, however, continue to be
discriminated against in this area. Over the last several years, there have been several major
incidents of controversy surrounding mothers’ breastfeeding their babies.2 It seems like
breastfeeding, which was once a very hidden thing has become very public. Women are starting
to take a stand for their rights to choose to breastfeed their children and to do it in public. The
Gillette incident and several others like it are a way to rebel against the current social norm—
that breastfeeding should be kept at home or even that breastfeeding is obscene—and they are
beginning to make waves across the country to inspire change.
For many years now, women have been standing up for women’s rights. Suffrage for all
women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is just one example of this. This
standing up for women’s rights is called feminism, and the people that stand for these rights are

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called feminists. Feminists even have debates amongst themselves over what is a true
discrimination against or right for women.
One subject that feminists sometimes hotly debate over is breastfeeding and whether
protective breastfeeding policies in the workplace and in public areas should be allowed. A
person would think that a feminist would want these things for every woman, and many do; but
many do not. A feminist theorist herself, Bernice L. Hausman brings the argument that feminism
is closely tied to breastfeeding. There was a wave of feminism in the 1960s that said
breastfeeding was the right of all women. The feminists of that era argued for breastfeeding.
Then in the 1980s and early 1990s, another wave came through. It was a wave of feminism that
said mothers are more liberated to work if they are not tied down by breastfeeding.3 Hausman
argues, however, that breastfeeding does not tie a mother down; instead, it allows a mother to
take back control of her own body and for what it is designed and to take back the authority of
raising her own child from the predominantly male medical community. During the 1990s to the
present there has been a great resurgence in breastfeeding, and a resurgence of breastfeeding as a
feminist practice.4 Hausman says that although there are many factors in this debate such as the
profit made by formula companies by bottle-feeding and the resistance of many physicians to
breastfeeding, it is by and large a political issue—one that needs to give rights to all women—
including breastfeeding women.5 There are some feminists that would say that breastfeeding
does not offer as many health benefits as some claim, and that women in developing countries
are made to feel that if they don’t breastfeed, it is their fault if their child dies. That is not the
goal of advocacy for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding alone is not responsible for the salvation or
mortality of human infants. Hausman says, however, “In de-emphasizing the health benefits of
breastfeeding, First World feminists do a disservice to the most disadvantaged women in the

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world.”5b While breastfeeding is not a cure-all, it can give an opportunity for a child to survive;
it can an opportunity for a child to survive in conditions that otherwise the child might not have a
chance.
Hausman reflects that breastfeeding advocacy and many feminist ideas about
breastfeeding appear to be at odds. But this represents all-or-nothing thinking. Breastfeeding
advocates are advocating that breastfeeding is the only way to go and oftentimes leave a mother
feeling guilty if her choice to opt out of breastfeeding or if her attempts at breastfeeding are
unsuccessful. On the other hand, feminists that are against breastfeeding go to the other
extreme—claiming that scientific evidence touting breastfeeding is faulty and that having
women breastfeeding ties them in the traditional role where a patriarchal society wants them to
stay. However, there is a place for the two camps to meet in the middle. True feminism is about
giving women a choice and allowing them to have autonomy over their own bodies and not
making either group (those who breastfeed or those who do not choose to breastfeed) feel guilty.
There is room in feminism (and it should be a part of feminism) to help women breastfeed and to
educate them on the benefits of breastfeeding to mother and baby if that is their choice.6
Hausman explains that feminists need to look at breastfeeding as part of a whole-body
experience and champion it as a way for health activism for women—a way for women to know
more about their own bodies, and take charge of their own health. The whole experience of
mothering—especially pregnancy and breastfeeding is something that men cannot experience; it
is something unique to women that sets them apart. Women should not be discriminated against
because of it, but respected for it. This is one aspect that feminists who are hesitant to take up
the cause for breastfeeding should really take a stand on. Feminism is all about women’s choices
to raise and feed their own children the way they see fit. Women (of all ethnicities) should have

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all the resources they need if they choose to breastfeed; and they should have rights that protect
their choice.7 “Judith Galtry suggests in the current American context poor women do not have
a real choice in infant feeding method because breastfeeding is generally possible for those
women with flexible professional careers and/or extensive control over their private
arrangements. (Galtry “Sameness and Suckling 78) And that should be a major concern for all
feminist scholars and theorists. “ All women should campaign, not just for the benefits of
breastfeeding, but for the right to breastfeed.8
Hausman shows that there are many feminist critics out there of breastfeeding. Some of
these feminists, like Jules Law, say that reproduction is a biological function, where lactation and
breastfeeding are not: they are political. These feminists (some of them men) argue that
breastfeeding ties the woman to the home and therefore takes away her role as a working
woman. Hausman differs in her view. She says that the reason Law and other feminists view
breastfeeding as tying a woman down and keeping a woman from entering or remaining in the
workforce is that they are thinking of the work (employment) system as it is now. The system
itself is discriminatory toward women. It is the system, not the breastfeeding that is tying the
woman down. Breastfeeding is a biological component of reproduction and mothering. In other
countries, work places are more friendly towards mothering and breastfeeding and also provide
much longer maternity leaves. The United States system of work needs an overhaul—one that is
supportive of working mothers in their role. The work system itself is patriarchal.9
According to Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding, the effect that women going back to work
has on breastfeeding has not really been given much attention. Work and type of work, however,
have an impact on whether or not a mom may breastfeed or how long she may breastfeed. Race
also has a factor to play in breastfeeding, as well as socioeconomic status. African Americans

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are less likely to breast feed than whites, who are less likely to breastfeed than Hispanics, who
are less likely to breastfeed than Asians. Also, poorer people with lower incomes and lower
paying jobs are less likely to breastfeed than their richer counterparts. Clearly there is a lot of
work to be done to make sure there is an equal opportunity for every ethnicity and
socioeconomic status to breastfeed when they return to work.9b
Lucas and McCarter Spaulding say that the first three months are crucial to breastfeeding
success. Women who return to work during that time are highly unlikely to continue
breastfeeding. Also, higher paying jobs where a woman has some say in what happens yield
higher breastfeeding rates. Unfortunately, many women choose to fit breastfeeding around work
rather than make their work fit around breastfeeding. This is especially true with women in lower
paying jobs.10
Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding acknowledge that when there is support at a woman’s
place of work, she is usually more successful at it. However, if a workplace is not supportive of
breastfeeding, women tend to give up quickly. The government may need to step in. Employers
who welcome breastfeeding by welcoming baby and/or by giving a nice place to pump along
with extra breaks to do it have women who are more likely to continue breastfeeding for up to
one year, the minimum recommendation by the American Pediatric Association (APA).11
Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding also state that by feminists, the role of breastfeeding in
the workplace can be viewed 2 ways. The first way is through the equality lens: men and
women should be treated exactly the same—no exceptions. The other view is the equality
through the differences of men and women lens. Men and women are biologically different.
Men do not bear the responsibility of carrying or delivering the child or of lactation, so men and
women cannot always be treated exactly the same. Men have no such responsibilities; therefore,

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their needs at work are different. By not allowing women the right to maternity leave and the
right to lactation in the workplace, women are being discriminated against because by their very
nature, they are mothers and that is what they need. “As legal scholar Joan Williams notes
‘Allowing women the ‘choice’ to perform as workers without the privileges that support male
ideal workers is not equality.’ ”12 Some people and employees view breast feeding simply as a
social choice that a woman does not have to choose—especially if she wants to stay working.
However, by forcing women to choose between a career and/or income and breastfeeding, is not
upholding women’s rights.13
Current policies for breastfeeding both federally and as defined by sate are not very
helpful. Federally a woman is entitled by federal law t o12 weeks of unpaid leave through the
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and for one year, she is entitled to pump in a private place
that is not a bathroom. That’s it; and that is only if the company has more than fifty employees
and would not find it extremely difficult to allow the mother to take breaks to pump. About half
of the states have adopted similar policies. None of these laws, however, are making it easy to
breastfeed in the workplace. They offer a bare minimum and are not protecting a woman’s right
to choose breastfeeding over formula. Lucas and McCarter say, “Workplace accommodations of
breastfeeding mothers are then based on deviation from a male standard.”14 That shows how
much American society is still patriarchal in nature—discriminating against women. Lubold and
Roth say, “Because the male body is the unstated norm for the ideal worker, and the law has
required no accommodation for breastfeeding employees, employers, managers, and coworkers,
often resent having to allow time and space for expressing milk at work.”15 In other Western
countries there is more freedom for working women who want to breastfeed. There is usually
paid maternity leave—sometimes up to up to a year long; and workplaces in general are more

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supportive of a breastfeeding mom. Many feminists and moms in America are speaking out
more for having access to their babies at work, longer paid maternity leave, and hassle-free
pumping of milk without being looked down on. American mothers are starting to see some
differences—such as the law in 2010 that provides a tax deduction for breast pumps—but not
enough. Activists must continue to fight for these rights for women.16
Besides the workplace, there are other areas where women need their rights to be
protected. In her book, The Politics of Breastfeeding, Gabrielle Palmer shares how women are
taught to view their breasts from an early age. In American culture, the breasts are viewed as
merely sexual objects. Many women have grown up being taught that showing the breast is
immodest. While that may be somewhat true, bearing your breasts for breastfeeding is not
immodest. It is a necessity of life. In other cultures, they think nothing of it. It is no wonder
women struggle to keep breastfeeding. Many feel ostracized when they try to feed in public and
isolated when they do not. Plus, something that has been hidden and sacred all their lives is now
in the open for everyone to see. That can be very intimidating for a young woman.17 According
to Dowling, Naidoo, and Pontin, breastfeeding will be impossible if the mother is not allowed to
breastfeed in public. The reason is that newborns and young infants nurse so much that the
mother is almost constantly nursing. It is impossible for her to go anywhere if she cannot nurse
in public. Most women just need to realize that it can be uncomfortable for other people, but
they have the right to nurse in public; and there is nothing wrong with it. Although women
breastfeeding in public are protected by federal law, many mothers and employees of different
establishments are not aware of these laws. Plus, even if a mother is knowledgeable about the
law, but the one who is asking her to leave is not, she often does not want to create a scene.18
However, many women are taking a stand against these injustices, and they are trying to raise

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awareness for public breastfeeding rights. Health professionals can help by keeping people
educated about breastfeeding. Things like pictures of nursing mothers being portrayed in public
in places like in California and social marketing, where people who believe in breastfeeding and
own a business take a stand for and promote breastfeeding at their business. According to
Dowling, Naidoo, and Pontin, the best way to promote breastfeeding in public is to “. . .
maximize the incidence and prevalence of women breastfeeding in public.”19
Changes are happening in the United States every time a mother breastfeeds in public.
The changes are slow, but they are noticeable. Women are rebelling against social norms, and it
is working. Every time a mother gets asked to cover up or leave somewhere, just like Emily
Gillette on the plain or the woman in Chick-Fil-A or the outcry over the two mothers
breastfeeding in their army uniforms, other breastfeeding mothers get up in arms about it. They
stage “nurse-ins” at these places. “Nurse-ins” are small protests where a bunch of mothers come
and nurse their babies openly in the very place that the one mother was asked to leave. These
mothers become inspirations and the spark that lights a fire. Change for breastfeeding and
women’s rights is slow to come, but it is coming.

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End Notes
1. Apple, Rima D, Mothers and Medicine: A Social History of Infant Feeding, 1890-1950
(Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1987), pp. 5-16.
2. Schrobsdorff, Susanna, “The Politics of Nursing”. Time Lists (2011, February 23), Retrieved
from:http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2053230_2053229_205329
2,00.html
3. Hausman, Bernice L. Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture (New
York: Routledge, 2003), pp. 1-7.
4. Ibid, pp.1-7.
5. Ibid, pp. 1-7.
5b. Hausman, Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture, pp. 203-204.
6. Hausman, Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture, pp. 189-196.
7. Hausman, Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture, pp. 218-227.
8. Ibid, pp. 218-227.
9. Hausman, Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture, pp. 198-202.
9b. Lucas, Jennifer C., McCarter Spaulding, Deborah. Hausman, Bernice L, Labbok, Smith,
Paige Hall (Eds.), Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints and Realities (New
Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2012), pp. 144-148.
10. Ibid, pp. 144-148.
11. Ibid, pp. 144-148.
12. Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding, Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints
and Realities, pp. 148-150.
13. Ibid, pp. 48-150.
14. Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding, Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints
and Realities, pp. 150-154.

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15. Lubold Amanda Marie and Roth, Louise Marie. Hausman, Bernice L, Labbok, Smith, Paige
Hall (Eds.), Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints and Realities (New
Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2012), pp. 157-159.
16. Lucas and McCarter-Spaulding, Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints
and Realities, pp. 150-154.
17. Palmer, Gabrielle,
(London: Pinter and Martin Ltd, 2009), pp. 33-35.
18. Dowling, Sallie, Naidoo, Jennie, and Pontin, David. Hausman, Bernice L, Labbok, Smith,
Paige Hall (Eds.), Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints and Realities (New
Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2012), pp. 249-257.
19. Ibid, pp. 19.

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