What is New Zealand’s society’s view of breastfeeding? Does the societies view have an impact on mothers choosing to breastfeed?

The New Zealand Herald (2011) wrote an article in May 2010 in outrage about an American lifestyle magazine’s online article titled “10 commandments for eating out with young children”. This article stated as a tenth ‘commandment’ breastfeeding mothers at top restaurants should feed their babies in the toilet. There were so many people in outrage about what had been written that the magazine editor removed the tenth ‘commandment’ and apologized for what was said.

Breastfeeding in public is a right for New Zealand mothers, "it is illegal for someone to stop you breastfeeding at work, where you are studying, on public transport, in government departments, in public places and in restaurants and shops” (Human rights Commission, 2008).

However society may still view breastfeeding as something that should be done in private and out of the public eye. La Leche League (breastfeeding support and advocacy team) supports this by stating that although breastfeeding in public is not as much of an issue as it is in Britain and the US, there are still problems that rise (New Zealand Herald, 2011). One of these issues is that although breastfeeding is generally accepted some mothers are not breastfeeding because they feel less confident to in public.

Following the article in the New Zealand Herald about the American magazine the news reporter added a forum where readers could have their say about the idea of mothers being able to breastfeed in public or having to do it in a toilet. There was a range of opinions and to my astonishment quite a few people agreed with the American magazine. Some people referred breastfeeding as similar as being intimate with their partners and others stated that children should not be in restaurants if they are breastfeed and should be left at home.

Whereas others were supportive of breastfeeding being acceptable in public and suggested turning their eyes away if they saw a mother breastfeeding or mothers covering up their breast with a baby blanket (The New Zealand Herald, 2011). One person in particular shared an experience of their own when out shopping with their baby:  

“My wife and I were in a large chain store at Sylvia Park and baby needed a feed. So she gave baby what she needed. As ya do. When some guy came up (a customer I think) and suggested she take baby to the toilets to "do that". I promptly suggested to him that he go eat his lunch in the toilet - which shut him up.

I can't understand this attitude, breastfeeding is the most natural thing a mother could do and if people like this don't want to see it then don't look!” (The New Zealand Herald, 2011, p.2).

Beasley and Trlin (1998) state that mothers in their book also felt embarrassment towards breastfeeding in public. Looks of disapproval from others, the mothers wondering what the public were thinking contributed to feeling uncomfortable as well as other physical signs like leaking breasts and infants sucking noises as this drew attention towards them (Beasley & Trlin, 1998).

“There have been times when people have given me a look that suggested that maybe what I was doing [was unacceptable]. I felt uncomfortable” (Beasley & Trlin, 1998, p.85).

Mothers are definitely taking on societies views on breastfeeding in public and even though it is being promoted through advertising the breastfeeding statistics have become lowered. Kiwi Families (2007) states that societies view DOES have an impact on some mothers choices to breastfeed but it was not only because of how society feels about seeing breastfeeding in public. There were other reasons to also influence mothers such as formula being advertised and subtly giving the message that babies will sleep better and be more satisfied from formula.

This information has shown that what society believes has an impact on mothers and breastfeeding. Why should some people’s beliefs interfere with what is best for a babies health? I am sure that adults wouldn’t like to have to wait until they got home to eat or even have their meal in a toilet. So why should it be any different for a baby?

Here is a video that supports breastfeeding in public in New Zealand!

References:

Beasley, A. & Trlin, A. (1998). Breastfeeding in New Zealand: Practice, Problems and Policy. Palmerston North, NZ:  Dunmore Press.

Human rights commission. (2008). Your rights as a breastfeeding mother. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from: http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/14-Dec-2005_16-09-38_breastfeeding_flyer_English.pdf

Kiwi Families. (2007). Breastfeeding knowledge. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from:    http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/Topics/Babies/Feeding-Your-Baby/Breastfeeding-Knowledge.html

The New Zealand Herald. (2011). Magazine slammed for ordering breastfeeding mums to toilet. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10647454