Breastfeeding in public | When the nourishing breast disturbs

Is breastfeeding in public well accepted in Quebec? Maybe less than you think. The story of Isabelle Côté, who was arrested by a security officer at the Eaton Center last Saturday because she was breastfeeding on a bench in front of a store, is not an isolated case, according to the organizations consulted by The Press.

Veronique Larocque
The Press

In 24 hours, Isabelle Côté’s misadventure has been repeated thousands of times on social networks. The mother-of-4-month-old didn’t expect her Instagram post to have such a big impact.

Her message denounced the fact that a security guard had forbidden her to breastfeed in public and that she had invited her to come to the breastfeeding room if she wished to continue. A directive repeated a few minutes later by his supervisor.

How did Isabelle Côté feel at that time? “At first, I was so surprised to learn that even in 2022, you could approach a woman to forbid her from breastfeeding in public. Afterwards, I became angry, demanding… but it didn’t last long. I quickly became a little stressed, with the baby to deal with, the other security guard coming. […] People started looking at me. »

She decided to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission following the incident.

Isabelle Côté’s story is not unique. On social networks, many women have indicated that they have experienced a similar situation in different places: other shopping centers, at the restaurant, at the municipal swimming pool…

“Almost every month, we hear about a similar event,” says Sophie Morel, executive director of Nourri-Source Montreal, an organization that aims to promote breastfeeding.

Raphaëlle Petitjean, executive director of the Quebec Breastfeeding Movement (MAQ), adds that many mothers who breastfeed in public report receiving disapproving comments or looks from passers-by.

Why these reactions?

However, breastfeeding is allowed everywhere in Quebec. Called upon to rule on the issue in the past, the courts have ruled “that a woman cannot be prevented from breastfeeding in public,” says Éducaloi on its website.

Why, then, is breastfeeding shocking? “There is definitely an aspect linked to the hypersexualization of the breasts”, answers Sophie Morel.

The pandemic could also have exacerbated the reactions, believes Raphaëlle Petitjean.

“There are some people who consider the gesture of breastfeeding as a private and intimate gesture,” says Chantal Bayard, doctoral student in social sciences at the Center Urbanization Culture Société of the National Institute for Scientific Research.

“When we talk about breastfeeding in the public space, the element that always comes up is yes, women can breastfeed, but they have to be discreet,” she continues.

Hide that boob

Among the comments on social networks in reaction to the story of Isabelle Côté, many Internet users also invited breastfeeding women to cover up.

“Would a mom or dad who is bottle-feeding their baby be asked to hide the baby while they are feeding it? No. Would people be asked to hide to eat? No more. It is very uncomfortable for mother and baby to cover up when breastfeeding. It’s hot down there. We do not see what we are doing, ”reacts Sophie Morel.

Not feeling entitled to breastfeed in a public place can affect some mothers. “It becomes a factor that will encourage women to wean their child earlier,” says Raphaëlle Petitjean.

If they fear the gaze of others, “it can confine them to the house” and isolate them, adds Sophie Morel.

Enabling environment

Various initiatives exist to make breastfeeding mothers feel more welcome in shops. For example, the Milk Route “lists places where employees are advised of the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime,” explains Sophie Morel.

In order to normalize breastfeeding in public, the Quebec Breastfeeding Movement has also created a poster that reads: “Thank you for respecting families during breastfeeding”. Raphaëlle Petitjean invites all businesses that wish to obtain one free of charge on the MAQ website.