Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Last week, a fascinating controversy erupted that is worth mulling over. According to an article in The Huffington Post, an American University professor, finding herself in a child-care jam because her baby was sick, took the baby to class, let the baby crawl around while she lectured, and then started breastfeeding when the baby got hungry. Evidently this act was hugely controversial.
Now we must admit that if there was a reasonable threat that the child was spreading disease, or if the professor was somehow unable to present the material because of the child, perhaps she should have made other arrangements. On the other hand, with regard to the latter concern, cancelling class would surely have disrupted presentation of the material more than lecturing with a fussy child. When one reviews internet comments on the incident, it becomes evident that many people have a visceral, negative reaction to what the professor did—despite the absence of any allegation that she failed to do her job adequately in teaching class that day. Apparently, many people take the view that her choice was per se unprofessional. The interesting question is, why?
Let me hazard a hypothesis: as a society, we are deeply uncomfortable with women in public. Hold on, you might say, what about feminism? What about the Nineteenth Amendment, what about civil rights law, etc.? I repeat my hypothesis, and now let me extend it: we have no problem with honorary men, i.e., pants-wearing persons with two X chromosomes, in public. What really bothers us is when a person with two X chromosomes engages in exclusively feminine activity like breastfeeding, while on the job—irrespective of whether the breastfeeding meaningfully disrupts what is going on in the workplace. In other words, we don’t like it when a woman combines traditional and modern roles.
If you are skeptical, let me offer some evidence. The two female politicians who received the most scathing criticism of late were Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. Both combined traditional and modern roles—Hillary Clinton by touting her professional background as a prospective first lady, and then running for the senate after being first lady, and Sarah Palin by having a child in office. By contrast, female politicians appearing solely in their modern, professional capacity (Barbara Boxer, Michelle Bachman); or political wives whom we associate almost exclusively with a traditional role (Laura Bush, Michelle Obama), do not find themselves on the receiving end of anything close the same negative attention. Controversy also swirled around former Massachusetts Acting Governor Jane Swift when she had children in office.
My point is not to endorse either Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin (personally I am not a fan of progressive politics, on the one hand, or reality TV, on the other). Nor am I trying to editorialize on a right to breastfeed in the workplace. I just find the visceral negative reaction fascinating. It could be that there is good reason for our discomfort with the combination of traditional and modern roles on the part of women. There is nothing illegitimate about concern for the needs of children. Most of people, however, generally consider it appropriate to leave judgments about the needs of children to the children’s parents. And frankly, the ire over the professor bringing her baby to class is absurd.
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Comments:
Jun '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
I dunno, I've never been that hungry at work.
Seriously, no, it's not unprofessional in the least. Anyone who is offended by a woman breastfeeding her child needs therapy or a reality check.
Aug '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
L.T. Rahe:
Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
It is when I do. At least, that's what the judge said.
Dec '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
The test, I think, would be to imagine an exclusively masculine activity and consider whether it would cause a similar uproar. If yes, then it is a seperation of the personal from the professional that is the issue. If no, then perhaps you are right. The problem I have with running this mental exercise, however, is coming up with an exclusively masculine activity other than work to test. Perhaps professional labor is still, for all intents and purposes, an exclusively masculine activity within our culture.
Great hypothesis that requires more thought.
Nov '11
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
I don't care about the breastfeeding part. Bringing a disruptive child to class is the unprofessional part.
People get weird about breastfeeding.
You need to be careful, you might expose a breast, which would be an obscenity. (Not by my standards, mind you, I'm pro-breasts, but by whatever standard thinks that bare breasts are obscene.)
Apr '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Wasn't it a class on "Sex, Gender and Culture", or something like that? My thought was that, if the professor had been clever, should could have presented it as some kind of object lesson, and then she'd be championed as a heroine of sorts.
I can't really imagine teaching class while tending a baby. The breastfeeding part per se doesn't much bother me.
Feb '11
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Umm really? Breast-feeding in public is OK? Sometimes it's an emergency, but really it's just plain rude to just expect others to accept it. There are plenty of ways to solve the problem -- breast milk pumps, tent coverups that hide what's going on -- without getting too aggressive about this. We're well past the stage now, but when our kids were at that stage my wife managed to solve the problem without being extreme in either direction.
A little courtesy and common sense in both directions goes a long way here. Everything doesn't have to be a class action suit. Part of successfully living in a pluralistic society is showing a little restraint in the personal sphere.
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 6:23pmApr '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
I should add, though: I don't think it's per se unprofessional to have a child or to breastfeed at work. It all depends on what else you're doing. If the professor had simply had the baby present and/or fed it while talking in her office with a student, I would be firmly in the "get over it" camp. I mean, it's better not to bring your kids to office hours, but as an occasional "I'm in a jam and this is the only way I can be here" thing, it doesn't seem like a big deal to me.
Lecturing is a little different. When a whole bunch of people have paid a small fortune to hear you talk, they deserve your undivided attention for that 70 minutes or whatever it was. If she really had no other option, I would suggest taping a virtual lecture for that one class, and telling the students to watch it.
Aug '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
While I sympathize with the professor's personal situation (sick baby, no child care), her students are entitled to a focused teacher and a classroom free of avoidable distractions.
On the other hand, if this was a one-time situation, there's no need to make a big deal of it.
Dec '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Was it people on the right or the left causing the fuss? After all, if it takes a village to raise a child, then why are we so squeamish about children being out and about in the village?
Jun '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
So long as the mom shows some modesty (my daughter-in-law puts a light blanket over her and the baby), it doesn't bother me a whit. That's what breast-feeding mothers do: feed their babies.
I do find the "earth mother" approach (the immodest approach) highly off-putting, not because the woman is feeding her baby, but that she lacks modesty. That, it seems to me, is a mildly distasteful form of exhibitionism.
I worked in a law firm where young moms (also lawyers) would occasionally bring their babies to work--they knew how to close the door while feeding the child. Life went on with no large ripples.
Jun '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
No Caesar ... Yes, really. I see nothing objectionable in a woman breastfeeding in public, it's as natural as breathing. The only members of the population who have a right to complain are hungry children. Everyone else needs to grow up and get over themselves.
Apr '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
My suggestion, No Caesar, is that there is no way to prevent public breastfeeding that doesn't involve considerable inconvenience for mothers. I felt a lot of angst about this with my first baby, and by the second just decided to stop worrying about it. Of course, I will always choose a secluded bench or a closed restaurant booth over a crowded public square. But my babies understandably hate nursing tents in the summer (besides which, they make it hard for me to control an older child while nursing), and pumping is really to be avoided if at all possible. (Apart from the intrinsic unpleasantness of it, it interrupts the natural supply of breast milk, making it that much harder to provide the right amount of food when the baby needs it.)
With my first child, I just didn't go out in periods where he was going through a growth spurt, or if I thought he might be hungry soon. With a baby and a toddler, that quickly started to drive me crazy. Can't people just go about their business? It doesn't seem like that much to ask, given what a huge help it is to moms.
Sep '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
If a male professor stops in the middle of a lecture, tells the students to hold on for a second, leans forward, squints, and then blasts a massive fart, would you consider that professional?
But its natural! Just like breathing!
Mar '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Since the child was brought to work, it appears that feeding the child which would keep the child relatively silent in a class where the instructor is imparting information by speaking, would be the best recourse for all.
It certainly takes care of a legitimate need of the child. It certainly allows the instructor to instruct (except for one arm) unless two arms are needed for the instruction.
It introduces the students to the idea that babies need care and feeding, in a time and place where they cannot avoid seeing those needs displayed.
My compliments to the instructor for doing the best by all, as long as the baby's illness could not be caught by her students.
My compliments to the instructor for recognizing that she is a mother who has a small child who needed her. Mom is a greater title than professor.
Apr '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Mark Belling Fan: If a male professor stops in the middle of a lecture, tells the students to hold on for a second, leans forward, squints, and then blasts a massive fart, would you consider that professional?
But its natural! Just like breathing! · 0 minutes ago
Farting is gross. Breastfeeding isn't.
Feb '11
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Hmm. Interesting tyranny you describe.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and repeat myself, a little courtesy and common sense go a long way in a pluralistic society. In fact, it used to be a sign of maturity.
Jun '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Mark Belling Fan ... While it is true that flatulence and lactating are both natural biological processes, it's widely accepted that, given the unpredictable auditory and offensive olfactory emanations attending the former, circumspection ought to be exercised. Breastfeeding produces no offensive odors or sounds, and has the added benefit of exposing one of the loveliest sights found in nature: that of a mother tending to the needs of her child. No specious argument will sway me.
Mar '11
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
This all depends on what the teacher was doing. If she was giving a test then it was fine. Lecturing then yes it was unprofessional, sorry but a child is a distraction when you are trying to do something that should take 100% of your attention.
Now if a student brought their child to class, I don't think it is that big of deal as long as the baby is well behaved. Mothers do it all the time in church and the only time it is a disruption is when child is crying or talking and the mother does not take the child out of service.
Breastfeeding, it depends what was going on if it was unprofessional and a distraction. However, being modest and breastfeeding your child in public is fine.
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 7:33pmDec '10
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
Silly question, but would a picture of breastfeeding be in violation of the code of conduct here? What if it was completely relevant to the discussion?
Jun '12
Re: Is It Unprofessional to Breastfeed at Work?
No Caesar ... Then on this we must agree to disagree. I believe that any adult who feels offended at the sight of a mother breast feeding her child ought to be mature enough to recognize the sight for what it is and exercise the right not to take offense.