Breastfeeding, I support it but...

[Anjelica]

Florida State Law says that the woman may be exposed during breastfeeding. The Law states things such as a woman breastfeeding in public is exempt from breaking laws dealing with lewd & lascivious acts, exposure of sexual organs. Florida Statutes also states: "A mother's breastfeeding of her baby is not under any circumstance 'harmful to minors.'"

I don't think Disney needs to have a policy, since the State Laws have already granted that policy.

Disney is a privately held company and therefore has their own policies that can go above and beyond and in some instances can even contradict state laws. For example, some states allow the carrying of concealed weapons but private businesses can ban concealed weapons from their property even though state law says otherwise.

Disney has every right to require a person to cover up if they feel they are showing to much skin in their promoted family friendly environment. Disney even goes so far as to have designated Child care areas where mothers who choose to get away from the public in a quiet area can do so. Do I think every person who wants to breastfeed at WDW has to go to the child care areas - not at all. But I feel that if you are going to go full monty on top for whatever reason some discretion should be used.

On their website Disney promotes family friendly environment. In America there is a certain level of expectation in what constitutes "family friendly environment". I think Disney has tried to make the parks family friendly for both those with young children who parents do not wish to expose to levels of nudity and those that wish to breastfeed. They aren't going to appease everyone but they are trying to come to some middle ground.

From their website on clothing requirements - I can see they actually don't have a posting that refers to going topless either way. But, common sense tells me that if I am not feeding two children at a time via my breasts I can probably keep the other one covered.

"Is there any clothing that isn't permissible?

The parks are a casual, family-oriented environment. We suggest you dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes and check the local weather report before you leave for the parks.

Ensuring that the parks are family friendly is an important part of the Disney experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense. Attire that is not appropriate for the theme parks (and which may result in refusal of admittance) includes but is not limited to:

Adult costumes or clothing that can be viewed as representative of an actual Disney character
Masks (unless you are dressing up for a particular event)
Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics
Excessively torn clothing
Clothing which, by nature, exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment
Objectionable tattoos "

 

[LiberalPrincess]

There is nothing wrong with a woman using her breast to feed her baby in public. I see no reason to have the other one hanging out, flapping in the wind. I have an adolescent ds - let him believe, for as long as possible, that breasts stay high and perky, and not long and lean after his wife bears him children. I want grandchildren!

Now that is funny -- however, then I would also say that overweight men should probably not be allowed to go shirtless for similar reasons... I do want my daughter to get married as well...

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Disney is a privately held company and therefore has their own policies that can go above and beyond and in some instances can even contradict state laws. For example, some states allow the carrying of concealed weapons but private businesses can ban concealed weapons from their property even though state law says otherwise.

Respectfully snipped.

I understand your points about Disney being a private company. Again, though, I will point you in the direction of the Florida Statute that says that a woman breastfeeding is not "harmful to minors." It would be a legal suicide for Disney to enact such a policy and then have to fight a public battle, in the courts, against people who are pro-breastfeeding. The law clearly sides with them, in that an exposed breast, for the purpose of breastfeeding is not contrary to their "family friendly" atmosphere.

 

[EMom]

How is another woman breastfeeding affecting your own modesty? What you are saying is that you want everyone to have your personal views. I believe there is a name for that. So, are your children not allowed to go to art museums? Also, I would stay away from D.C., and particularly the Library of Congress. Lots of nude statues there!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but she's already been to numerous art museums, particularly throughout.....gasp.....Europe! But you see, that was MY choice. You walk into an art museum and you pretty much know what to expect. The expectation when you walk down Main Street in MK is not a topless bar. (Okay.....I'm sure some do hope......)

 

[Anjelica]

Respectfully snipped.

I understand your points about Disney being a private company. Again, though, I will point you in the direction of the Florida Statute that says that a woman breastfeeding is not "harmful to minors." It would be a legal suicide for Disney to enact such a policy and then have to fight a public battle, in the courts, against people who are pro-breastfeeding. The law clearly sides with them, in that an exposed breast, for the purpose of breastfeeding is not contrary to their "family friendly" atmosphere.

And I don't disagree with you in terms of exposed breast for the purpose of breastfeeding.

My issue is with the fact that the women in question was exposing breasts where at least one was NOT for the purpose of breastfeeding (at that time).

I would be hard pressed to think that the Disney parks would not take issue to someone exposing their breasts while not breastfeeding. It goes against what we know to be "family friendly environment".

 

[luvmy3]

I don't take my children to Disneyworld to be exposed to so called "normal" things such as a completely topless woman regardless if she is feeding her children or not. I have lived overseas, traveled extensively, etc. and know the attitudes, etc. in foreign countries but as an American raising my children in America there are certain situations and places that call for some restraint. Going topless at MK is not acceptable in any situation.

If I want my children to be exposed to certain situations than I will expose them at my choosing (if possible). Again, b***ies were never on any Disneyworld travel brochure I have ever seen so should I expect my children to be exposed to that there - nope.

No issues with BF, no issues with some skin showing, etc. but to go completely topless - I have issues with.

Disney is a privately held company and therefore has their own policies that can go above and beyond and in some instances can even contradict state laws. For example, some states allow the carrying of concealed weapons but private businesses can ban concealed weapons from their property even though state law says otherwise.

Disney has every right to require a person to cover up if they feel they are showing to much skin in their promoted family friendly environment. Disney even goes so far as to have designated Child care areas where mothers who choose to get away from the public in a quiet area can do so. Do I think every person who wants to breastfeed at WDW has to go to the child care areas - not at all. But I feel that if you are going to go full monty on top for whatever reason some discretion should be used.

On their website Disney promotes family friendly environment. In America there is a certain level of expectation in what constitutes "family friendly environment". I think Disney has tried to make the parks family friendly for both those with young children who parents do not wish to expose to levels of nudity and those that wish to breastfeed. They aren't going to appease everyone but they are trying to come to some middle ground.

From their website on clothing requirements - I can see they actually don't have a posting that refers to going topless either way. But, common sense tells me that if I am not feeding two children at a time via my breasts I can probably keep the other one covered.

"Is there any clothing that isn't permissible?

The parks are a casual, family-oriented environment. We suggest you dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes and check the local weather report before you leave for the parks.

Ensuring that the parks are family friendly is an important part of the Disney experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense. Attire that is not appropriate for the theme parks (and which may result in refusal of admittance) includes but is not limited to:

Adult costumes or clothing that can be viewed as representative of an actual Disney character
Masks (unless you are dressing up for a particular event)
Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics
Excessively torn clothing
Clothing which, by nature, exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment
Objectionable tattoos "

Exposing your breasts while you are nursing is not "going topless". Now if this mom was walking around MK, eating her Dole Whip, plunging down Splash Mountain with her breasts fully exposed that would be different, however she was using them for what they were meant for. A parent who can't explain that to their children when OMG they witness it raises kids who have the attitide that a woman sitting there feeding her baby is "going around topless" which leads to more of these kinds of threads and debates. I mean really, its no big deal and the truth is a child doesn't yet have those sexual hang-ups that their parents have so teach them young what its all about and maybe some day our society can get passed it and not feel the need to shield a complete stranger who just happens to be feeding their baby.

 

[LiberalPrincess]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but she's already been to numerous art museums, particularly throughout.....gasp.....Europe! But you see, that was MY choice. You walk into an art museum and you pretty much know what to expect. The expectation when you walk down Main Street in MK is not a topless bar. (Okay.....I'm sure some do hope......)

Ah, so some breasts are ok, just not others. That is fascinating in itself. There goes the modesty argument out the window. It is the surprise breast that is such an issue. Children must be prepared for such a sight.

 

[EMom]

Respectfully snipped.

I understand your points about Disney being a private company. Again, though, I will point you in the direction of the Florida Statute that says that a woman breastfeeding is not "harmful to minors." It would be a legal suicide for Disney to enact such a policy and then have to fight a public battle, in the courts, against people who are pro-breastfeeding. The law clearly sides with them, in that an exposed breast, for the purpose of breastfeeding is not contrary to their "family friendly" atmosphere.

Well then, heck....Tourists, start snapping away with those cameras! If it's perfectly nothing at all you mind sharing with the crowds at WDW, then run down and get the Photopass guy while you're at it. Ahhhh....the memories.... Who needs to stand in line for Jasmine when you've got a better photo op right outside the ice cream shop? Wonder if they could "magic" Tinkerbell into one of those pics?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Holy Moly! Americans have got to get over this weird attitude that NORMAL things are abnormal and must be done discreetly. Do you give your kid their lunch discreetly? No. So why is it a big deal for it to be obvious that someone is nursing their baby? I'm not saying that it is necessary for the mom to have both sides hanging out, but who cares if your kid sees a mammary gland? (And FTR, putting a big blanket over baby makes it MORE obvious that you are nursing him or her).

One of the reasons Americans are overweight and unhealthy is because of this bizarre attitude towards completely normal NATURAL things. People treat formula as the norm by describing breast feeding as having "benefits". In reality formula has "short comings". (That is not to say that formula is in anyway unsafe... I think it does have it's place and it's not my call to make in any situation but my own)

I have a theory that the reason for this is because children aren't exposed to the NATURAL normal side of things from an early age. I also have a theory that as we grow up not exposed to the NATURAL normal course of human development, we don't learn these behaviors and so cannot pass them on to our own offspring. Breast feeding is one of these behaviors that I think has gotten "lost". (Another example would be convenience foods. Think about all the people that have no idea how to cook from scratch... because our parents were so enthralled with the idea of premade "convenience" dinners in the 50s...)

OP -- it was nice of you to try and shield the mother in question, because I have no doubt you were doing it out of the kindness of your heart, but I am not sure I would have had the same compulsion. I think people need to be exposed to normal things more often.

I don't care if a person is obviously BFing or not. What I care about it the unnecessary exposure to other people.

I have no issues with BFing, however some parents object to having their children see naked body parts exposed in public due to their religious beliefs..
Mother's are within their rights to BF - but parents are also well within their rights to practice whatever religion they choose.. I guess it all boils down to each side having respect for the other.. If it's possible to BF in public without being exposed, why not choose that option out of consideration for others?

Exactly. A lot of people have a problem with exposure due to religious reasons. Personally, I do not. For myself, I don't care about exposure, but I do care about it for other people because I know of the religious reasons.

BTW: My cousin who breastfed all her children, in public often without exposing herself, is quite religious.

No, a big part of why people refuse to nurse is because they are afraid of the discomfort with public nursing and being accused of "exposing" themselves......

Actually, as I stated in my pp, a mother can breastfeed a child without exposing herself in any way. I would sit and watch my cousin grab a baby blanket, lay it over her and her baby, undo her shirt and her bra and start feeding without showing anything. And that was with tops of all sorts.

Also, as someone else said, all the women I knew who didn't BF did not because it wasn't convienent for them. My own mom didn't breast feed me because she went back to work just a couple days after I was born.

Which religion is it that says breasts are taboo?

Several religions have beliefs that showing a person's body, especially sexual area's (which women's breasts are considered sexual), in public is taboo.
Included is Christianity and Islam and I believe Judaism.

Otherwise, it would be perfectly ok for people to go completely topless where ever we went in this country. Yet, if I take off my top and bra and try walking down the street, I would get arrested for public indecency.

 

[LiberalPrincess]

Well then, heck....Tourists, start snapping away with those cameras! If it's perfectly nothing at all you mind sharing with the crowds at WDW, then run down and get the Photopass guy while you're at it. Ahhhh....the memories.... Who needs to stand in line for Jasmine when you've got a better photo op right outside the ice cream shop? Wonder if they could "magic" Tinkerbell into one of those pics?

Odd that you find a woman breastfeeding a "better photo op" than Jasmine. But, to each their own, I suppose!

 

[luvmy3]

And I don't disagree with you in terms of exposed breast for the purpose of breastfeeding.

My issue is with the fact that the women in question was exposing breasts where at least one was NOT for the purpose of breastfeeding (at that time).

I would be hard pressed to think that the Disney parks would not take issue to someone exposing their breasts while not breastfeeding. It goes against what we know to be "family friendly environment".

How do you know that the baby did not feed off the exposed breast before the OP got there? Or maybe she was going to put the baby to that breast and as anyone who has nursed knows, its much easier to be prepared before you have the baby in your arms. A few minutes witnessed and suddenly you assume this woman is like a porn star?

 

[Anjelica]

Exposing your breasts while you are nursing is not "going topless". Now if this mom was walking around MK, eating her Dole Whip, plunging down Splash Down with her breasts fully exposed that would be different, however she was using them for what they were meant for. A parent who can't explain that to their children when OMG they witness it raises kids who have the attitide that a woman sitting there feeding her baby is "going around topless" which leads to more of these kinds of threads and debates. I mean really, its no big deal and the truth is a child doesn't yet have those sexual hang-ups that their parents have so teach them young what its all about and maybe some day our society can get passed it and not feel the need to shield a complete stranger who just happens to be feeding their baby.

So we should teach our children that it's ok to let one breast out there for the world to see while the other breast is "working"? Have to disagree with you on that.

We teach our children that there are certain areas that are private and to let us know if anyone tries to touch them there, etc. But then in the next breath we are supposed to let them know its ok to go somewhat nude?

My daughter knows breasts are there for feeding children but she also knows we don't expose ourselves needlessly. She has seen many of women feed their children discretely and is very capable of understanding the biologies of it all.

 

[Anjelica]

How do you know that the baby did not feed off the exposed breast before the OP got there? Or maybe she was going to put the baby to that breast and as anyone who has nursed knows, its much easier to be prepared before you have the baby in your arms. A few minutes witnessed and suddenly you assume this woman is like a porn star?

Not once did I infer that the women was a porn star. Nor did I say she was a bad person, a bad mother, etc. I think your jumping a bit.

Apparently though, the OP was there long enough to block the view and didn't inform us she had switched in that amount of time.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Several religions have beliefs that showing a person's body, especially sexual area's (which women's breasts are considered sexual), in public is taboo.
Included is Christianity and Islam and I believe Judaism.

Actually I was brought up in a very Christian household, and I was never, once, told that my body, in it's natural state was taboo or sinful. The one who is committing the sin is the one who is harboring the lustful thoughts about the nudity, or is using their nudity in a lewd/seductive fashion (of which breastfeeding falls under neither category). But, again, the act of simply being nude is actually man's original, God-made state of being.

 

[luvmy3]

So we should teach our children that it's ok to let one breast out there for the world to see while the other breast is "working"? Have to disagree with you on that.

We teach our children that there are certain areas that are private and to let us know if anyone tries to touch them there, etc. But then in the next breath we are supposed to let them know its ok to go somewhat nude?

My daughter knows breasts are there for feeding children but she also knows we don't expose ourselves needlessly. She has seen many of women feed their children discretely and is very capable of understanding the biologies of it all.

Then why the hang-up that you don't want your child to witness it?

 

[disneyfans95]

Why do people just jump on posts like this. Same post was done a week ago, and another a week before that.

Same old story and everyone going round and round the same tree.

Just let it go already people!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Why do people just jump on posts like this. Same post was done a week ago, and another a week before that.

Same old story and everyone going round and round the same tree.

Just let it go already people!

what else to do with a slow Monday at work?

 

[Anjelica]

Then why the hang-up that you don't want your child to witness it?

I never said I have a hang-up regarding my child witnessing breastfeeding. I have a "hang-up" on my child witnessing needless nudity at WDW.

 

[luvmy3]

Not once did I infer that the women was a porn star. Nor did I say she was a bad person, a bad mother, etc. I think your jumping a bit.

Apparently though, the OP was there long enough to block the view and didn't inform us she had switched in that amount of time.

I was referring to that porn star who does a question and answer show completely nude, but I'm guessing you wouldn't know who or what I'm talking about.
And the OP didn't see what happened before she got there, that was my point, and if the OP felt compelled to sit there and block her for the duration of the nursing I would say that the OP has bigger issues than she thinks the nursing woman has

 

[Anjelica]

what else to do with a slow Monday at work?

Oh Cr*p - that reminds me.......