Breastfeeding woman shamed in clothing store because 'men shop there too'
Breastfeeding mothers have staged a protest of sorts at a clothing store after one mum claimed she was “shamed” for trying to feed her hungry baby.
Taking a stand, Gizam Staveley had returned to the Werribee, Victoria, store on Thursday with other defiant mothers after she had been told to leave for breastfeeding her baby.
Gizam was dress shopping last Thursday when her four-month-old baby started crying.
As she began to feed her, she became embroiled in a confrontation with a staff member.
“She said, ‘sorry, I can’t allow you to breastfeed in the store, men walk into this shop as well,” Gizam said.
“So, it was for their comfort that my baby wasn’t going to eat.”
Mortified, she wrote about it online, where dozens of mothers leapt to her defence.
“It’s just unacceptable in this day and age,” one protester, Carlie, said.
“We’re just feeding our babies, there’s nothing wrong with it at all.”
It is legal for women to breastfeed in public, whether that be in a shopping centre, restaurant or park.
Gizam insists the incident won’t stop her from feeding her daughter in public.
In a statement to 7 News, the shop owner said the breastfeeding mother “was in an open space and was not asked to move.
“We just wanted to make her feel more comfortable.”
