Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Misc
Breast for the Best...But Not for the Rest
By
M Harper
Published Sep 2, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
M Harper
Published Sep 2, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It shouldn't be a shock to anyone to hear that an executive at Starbucks has a better work environment than a lowly barista. Other than higher pay and a far sweeter benies package, Gothamist imagines the Starbucks executive enjoys a quiter, less asshole-ridden workday (maybe). While to hear that there is a 2-class system for nursing moms on the job there is not surprising, it is still disturbing. Whereas the executive has a comfy and well-equipped lactation room at her disposal, the coffehouse worker has to use the bathroom during her break (assuming their isn't some undesirable in there clogging up the works).
This isn't new and it is in no way limited to a particular industry or geographical area. The fact is that breastfeeding is faciltated for women with higher level, more autonomous type jobs while it is exceedingly difficult for women who lack a certain amount of money or status. And, if you give any credence at all to the value placed on breastmilk (as all health organizations and professionals do), you can see how this perpetuates a rift in the classes...and is making many working moms understandably upset.
The CDC promotes breast feeding on the basis that it boosts immunity in newborns and helps to lower the rate of certain breast and ovarian cancers in mothers. The American Academy of Pediatrics goes even further to dispel any commercially espoused belief in the equality of formula to breastmilk, stating, "Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it." Gothamist found a wealth of experts touting the holiness of breatmilk. So, assume we all agree that the breast is best...and put aside any issues of it being gross or inapporpiate in public (that is a different article completely), why then aren't all mothers encouraged to breastfeed?
It seems a small concession to provide the time and space for a breastfeeding mother to pump. Really, all she needs is a small private space (converted closet perhaps?) and roughly 20 minutes every four hours. In return, the employer would be reaping the benefits of a healthier and happier employee, one that doesn't need to take as many days off to be with a sick infant. It seems like simple logic and, yet, breastmilk pumping in the workplace remains taboo, and, for many, impossible.
Gothamist can speak from experience. As an elementary school teacher, it was nearly impossible to pump for Gothamist Baby. Whether as a direct result or not, Gothamist had to take an extended leave (from which we have yet to return) when, after nine days of daycare, Baby became very ill. This is a situation in which an educated professional, in a female dominated, children friendly industry was discouraged from pumping. With no private space to do it, and only one lunch break during which it would be possible, pumping became too stressful to be efficient. (Note to the unitiated: it doesn't happen if you're tense.)
The US Dept of Health and Human Services tells women to just not go back to work, stay home. Yet our government does not provide for maternity leave. Gothamist was only able to take the most basic leave alotted by FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act) which was three months UNPAID. And if you must go back, they tell you to request a space from your supervisor, their office perhaps, as if this was something readily handed over. Some states have addressed the problem with legislation, but not all. New York State was, in fact, the first to enact breastfeeding legislation, but it simply allows women to breastfeed in public without the threat of being arrested for indecency and grants breastfeeding rights to incarcerated women.
And where does that leave our engorged barista? La Leche League is an advocacy group that offers support to nursing mothers. However, with no enforcable legislation on the horizon, she's still waiting in line for that bathroom hoping to fill a bottle or two before the next guy's cigarette break.
Tagged
American Academy
As
baby
children
environment
gothamist
Gothamist Baby
government
health
Human Services
industry
jobs
law
legislation
money
new york
new york state
opinions
starbucks
The CDC
us
wealth
M Harper
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE miscellaneous
We visited 8 laundromats to talk about voting and elections. Here's what people had to say.
As we inch closer to Election Day in November, WNYC is turning some laundromats in the New York metro area into hubs of civic dialogue.
By
Jodi Malarbe
and
George Bodarky
Published Jun 23, 2024
Aging with Pride: LGBTQ+ older adults share their personal journeys
As we mark Pride month, LGBTQ+ older adults share their struggles, triumphs and advice for today’s generations.
By
George Bodarky
Misc
Aging with Pride: LGBTQ+ older adults share their personal journeys
As we mark Pride month, LGBTQ+ older adults share their struggles, triumphs and advice for today’s generations.
By
George Bodarky
Hands in the dirt: Meet some of NYC's community gardeners
By
Enrico Denard
and
George Bodarky
'In the very, very beginning, it was about 3 feet of garbage': How NYC’s first community garden got started
By
George Bodarky
Serving up BBQ ribs and a deep sense of community in the South Bronx since 1954
By
George Bodarky
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .