Some of you may have heard about a recent controversy in New York over a woman who alleged harassment for nursing at a Toys "R" Us store. A state law enacted in New York in 2002 guarantees the right of women to nurse in public and private places.
In response, a New York Daily News reporter and her three month old daughter went "undercover" to gauge the response to nursing in public at several city locations. The article, published yesterday, is here.
The reporter and her daughter nursed at an Apple store, a Babies "R" Us store, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the exclusive Le Cirque restaurant, and on the crosstown bus. My favorite reactions are below.
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
A security guard issues stern warnings to every visitor using a video camera or cell phone, yet somehow misses the baby at my bosom.
But later he says that if he had seen us, he would have thrown us out. Why? "There's no eating or drinking in the galleries," he explains.
When I raise an eyebrow, he tells me to check with the information desk, where a woman consults a supervisor and confirms the guard was incorrect: "This is New York City, and a mother may feed her baby wherever she feels comfortable."
At Le Cirque, the general manager tells the reporter that she's hardly the first to nurse her baby at the restaurant:
"In fact, a few days ago we had a woman - a very famous woman, I won't tell you her name - nursing her baby," he says. "There's nothing wrong with it."
Now, who do you think that was?
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