Hi All,
As far as support goes for the working mother, here where I live it is
pathetic.  There are the few work places that will support the mom, but most
of them don't.  I had one mom call me a week or two ago asking how she could
get her co-workers (boss included) to stop "Mooing" at her when she went to
pump.  THey also called her the "Milk Maid", "Mama Cow" and asked questions
such as "So does it feel good to have those thing on your boobs?"  "When are
you going to stop doing 'that'", and they would make hissing noises
pretending to be the pump.  I would expect this type of behavior from
children, not adults.  I told her to talk to the head boss and tell her that
what they were doing to her is considered harrassment and that before it
gets any uglier than they are already making the workplace, that they need
to stop and NOW.  She did, but what she also did was to get the whole office
together and have a chat.  She pointed out other peoples little "habits"
(one farts a lot, another picks her nose when she thinks no one is looking,
etc) and asked if they would like her to comment loudly and rudely on the
things that they do the way they have been doing to her.  SHe also asked
them how many sick days had she taken off to care for her little one as
compared to another gal in the office who is ABM feeding (she has had no
sick days, the other gal several).  Evidently, she really made her point.
They leave her alone now, and some even offer to cover for her so she can
get in her pumping times.
Sorry about the ramble.  The point is, that in the USA, at least, there is
support for the BF working mom, but it is rare.  The problem is that none of
the companies feel that BF is any big deal since there is ABM, and they
don't really care what is going on in a womans private life.  That is not
their business.  Their business is in having the bodies at the workplace
working, and if one body needs "special" support, it just amy be easier to
replace that body than to support it.  Many women have been forced out of
their jobs by harrassment of the above kind, and others have simply had to
quit in order to protect themselves (emotionally).  It will be a grand day
when BF support in the workplace is common and no one thinks twice about it.
Sadly, tho, I fear we are YEARS away from that ideal.
Jay
Glad I don't have to work for the other man...
Jay Simpson, CLE
Sacramento, CA
"No Miracles performed here, just a lot of love and hard work."
LACTNET Quilt Raffle  Check out the web page then e-mail me at
[log in to unmask] for where to send for your tickets!