Breastfeeding unfriendly places

[poodlek]

What got to me about this whole situation was not that they were offended by her breast feeding, (since we do have to face the fact we are in a different sort of society here...) it was the way they chose to handle it. Anyone who has worked in customer service should know how to handle a 'crisis' of any description better than what was described here. And this was a place that presumably caters only to young families...it stands to reason that they should have a much better solution to this 'problem' than what they already have. Presumably breastfeeding isn't some new fad being brought to Asia by Western hussies...the gym should have had a bit of foresight and had a) a place for moms to feed without offending anyone and b) some training for the staff so they don't lose their s**t when they see a breast come out to feed a little one.

[BigSis]

Considering this is Asia, and their sensibilities are different than ours

Not really - they've just got themselves stuck in a modern day freakout in Singapore. Go anywhere in the rural world (including Asia) where Avent bottles and formula milk are not available (or affordable) and we have women who have no choice but to breastfeed. Nobody gives them a hard time about it because a) they're used to it and b) they know there's no choice.

Have you ever considered that foreigners who kick up a fuss about things like breastfeeding might actually be doing the local woman a favour? There are many Singaporean women who breastfeed and many who want to breastfeed but because of the narrow minded attitude of their fellow countrymen, they continue to use formula instead.

You don't change attitudes by sticking your head in the sand, you change them by speaking up and making people take notice. Telling people to go to Changi if they don't like something as sensible as breastfeeding a baby is a bit of an ostrich attitude.

So is vomiting, ejaculation, chewing with your mouth open, popping zits, draining abscesses, picking your teeth and diarrhea. But guess what? I don't want to see people engaging in these activities

strange how you'd associate feeding a child with vomiting and diarrhoea......Have you actually ever witnessed a woman breastfeeding? Most of them are very discreet about it and many use a shawl to cover up because they don't want to flash their boobs around any more than you might want to see them. In fact, if you took 100 breastfeeding women and sat them in a room together, you'd have a hard job seeing anything - that's how private it can be.

Imagine vomiting, ejaculating or going to the toilet in public without anyone noticing and see how well you think you'd get on with that.

[sundaymorningstaple]

You don't change attitudes by sticking your head in the sand, you change them by speaking up and making people take notice. Telling people to go to Changi if they don't like something as sensible as breastfeeding a baby is a bit of an ostrich attitude.

Welcome to Singapore. They've been running a "Courtesy Campaign" for nigh on 30 years now without discernible change. They've been running a "Speak Better English" Campaign for around 20 years and if anything the level of English, for wont of a better description (Singlish) has gotten worse. They are trying to do the same for Mandarin as well. I can guess the results of that as well....... Once you have been here more than 2 years, guaranteed you'll have the same attitude, or, you will have had your head buried in the sand.....

And yeah, I believe you will find that road.not.taken has probably not only seen breastfeeding but has more than likely done it for at least 3 children.

Imagine vomiting, ejaculating or going to the toilet in public without anyone noticing and see how well you think you'd get on with that.

They do that most every Friday & Saturday nights outside of Zouk.

[BigSis]

I've been here a bit longer than that SMS and I do think that things like b/f in public are getting a bit more acceptable, but that's got more to do with Singapore's obsession with health than anything else - if people are told it's beneficial (and if Mediacorp 'artiste's' do it of course ) they're more likely to accept it.

[road.not.taken]

What got to me about this whole situation was not that they were offended by her breast feeding, (since we do have to face the fact we are in a different sort of society here...) it was the way they chose to handle it. Anyone who has worked in customer service should know how to handle a 'crisis' of any description better than what was described here.

Yes, but in most instances, customer service is appauling bad or just 25 years out of date here in Singapore compared to a western country. Ever try to return something to a store?

strange how you'd associate feeding a child with vomiting and diarrhoea......Have you actually ever witnessed a woman breastfeeding?

Well, yes ~ having successfully breastfed my brood of three, you could say I've witnessed a woman breast feeding. I also ran into no problems, because it was in the US. Things are different here. My comparison (not association, really) is valid and shows the flaw in the logic. Breast feeding in public should not be accepted simply on the basis of it being a natural act.

[BigSis]

But that's the thing isn't it, most women don't tend to flaunt it. Although most of us don't want to sit in the toilets and feed our children, we'd like a quiet area where we can do so without feeling like either a fairground attraction or something embarrassing to be hidden away.

You're right, it is as natural as going to the toilet but while provision is made for those who want to do that, breastfeeding seems to have got overlooked. If the company concerned in this particular incident didn't want mums breastfeeding on their premises, there is something very simple that they should have done and that is to open a hostess karaoke bar rather than a kids playgym!

[road.not.taken]

If the company concerned in this particular incident didn't want mums breastfeeding on their premises, there is something very simple that they should have done and that is to open a hostess karaoke bar rather than a kids playgym!

You're giving them way too much credit, endowing them with waaaayy to much business acumen. Logical is not a term I'd apply to the average Singaporean business owner.

[MinniMe]

I have very simple question:

Why is it so damm hard to cover yourself when you're breastfeeding? Or, do BF moms loose their brain during the nursing phase of their lives?

I've nursed my both kids, one year long each one, and I did it in public, many many many times, in Asia, in Singapore, BUT, I always did it discreatly. You can buy nursing tops (google for NOPPIES brand, best ones I've found), you can use your scarf etc, but, you really don't have to let everything show. So simple, isn't it?

Breastfeeding is a great thing, best milk for babies, but, we don't live in a rural world, we live in a society with so many people from so may different cultures, and people of different generations. We all can be a little bit more considerate, can't we?

[thegoodwins]

Poodlk thanks for writting to Royce Gym, I did the same and got the same reply.
And thanks for all the support.
What made me angry was how they handle it. It's not the owner's fault it was the staff unaware and ignorant.

And what I wrote to newspaper online forum was on 19th. Then I got a email saying better for both parties, they will return me the membership fee and terminate my membership, I can understand the owner is upset as it went on newspaper. Now after read what people wrote on newspaper discussion I know what I want is to encourage more mothers to breastfeed and educate people here in my ability, so I am still talking to the owner. Sure unhappy experience I had will have a better ending and benefits nursing mothers in long run.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Just so as to not disappoint you too much, or to have you get your hopes up too much, they've been writing to the newspapers about courtesy and consideration for others the whole 28 years I've been here, I've not seen too much change at all. The breastfeeding issue crops up every year or so as well. But as you have already found out, lip service here is generous, but action & change, generally, isn't quite so forthcoming.

[thegoodwins]

Thanks. I thought might be the case but still want to give a go.

God loves us and bless us all.

[batgirl_cdn]

Well, so long as men and women from any culture view women's breasts are merely sexual objects, there will always be shaming of women for breastfeeding in public. Maybe people need to reconsider their sexist ideas and then we'll have some improvements!

[seatosin]

Not sure if anyone has gone to Royce's recently, but when I visited last Tuesday, I noticed that the owner had placed a "breastfeeding tent" in the area next to the chairs and desks - opposite end of the room from the main entrance.

My child wanted to go inside and play but I saw a sign hanging stating that it was for breastfeeding mothers. Seemed quite cozy at any rate with some colorful throw cushions.