hey all-
got this on my midwife listserv, I don't post to Lactnet much anymore, but
thought you would like to know about this event.
   warmllly,
           Amy In Maine :-)
           mom to Levi and Kaya, LLLLeader, nursing student, midwife someday
From: "Maureen Jackson, AAHCC et al" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:25:37 -0700
Subject: No Breastfeeding Where America Shops

Hi all....I just got this email from my cousin in Sacramento....she's on
the April babies email loop.  Anyhow...a doc on the loop just got told no
bfing allowed in Sears.  Not once by just one jerk in the photo studio,
but also when she called to complain.
So, I'm asking all to contact Sears and complain as well.  This is the
90s for goodness sake!  These folks are living in the 50s....not that this
behavior was acceptable then, either.

Below is this docs letter to Sears and following the letter are email
address and phone numbers to contact.  I am not on the Midwifery, doula
or cce lists....or lacnet for that matter.  Could you all forward this post
on to them.  Time to silence the ignorance!

Please email Dr. Decker at [log in to unmask] and let her know
you sent in your complaint.  It will also be a good promotion of the
natural childbirth people to another MD.

Dear Madam/Sir:

On Saturday, August 9th, I was at the Sears portrait studio #N14 in Madison
WI waiting to have my infant daughter's portrait taken.  While waiting, my baby
became hungry so I breasfed her.  Even though there were no other customers in
the store, I fed her very discretely,with her face and my breast completely
covered from view. Despite my modest feeding, I was told by an employee of
the store that under no circumstances was I permitted to breastfeed my baby
in the
store.  The employee insisted that I must move to a back room because people
would see me and this could not be allowed.  He further implied that
feeding my baby was "indecent" by repeatedly calling out, "are you decent
yet?" The employee's name was Myk L.

When I called the national customer service number for Sears Portrait Studio
the young woman I spoke to informed me that breastfeeding could not be permitted
at Sears stores because young children were often present and might see me
breastfeeding.  I asked whether this was a Sears policy or her own opinion.
She admitted that this was her opinion but told me she would have a supervisor
call me back.  I have received no return call on this matter.  I did not get the
name of the phone representative, but the supervisor who neglected to call back
was Rose King.

These incidents made me very angry. First, as a mother, I am offended that
I would
be forbidden from feeding my child in the healthiest and most natural manner
because an employee felt this was "indecent".  I am certain that no one
would have forbidden the bottle feeding of a baby.

As a Sears customer, I am alarmed that a business which must rely heavily on
families with babies and young children as customers could be so uneducated and
insensitive to the needs and best interests of its customers.  To tell
nursing mothers that they cannot feed their babies in the store is to drive
away business.

As a family practice physician, I am further angered because such ignorance
and intolerant behavior has a direct and negative impact on the health and
well- being of women and children. It has been clearly shown that
breastfeeding reduces
the incidence of respiratory illness, ear infections, allergies, asthma,
SIDS, intestinal illness, meningitis, and urinary tract infections in
infants, as well as reducing the incidence of certain adult diseases later
in life such as diabetes, ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease and breast
cancer.  Breastfeeding also reduces the mother's risk of breast and ovarian
cancer and of osteoporosis. Obviously, breastfeeding is an important
health matter.  As a physician I work hard to educate patients about the health
benefits of breastfeeding and provide support and encouragement for them since
obviously, breastfeeding is poorly accepted by some people.  Our nation has
an alarmingly low rate of breasfeeding. Is it any wonder when incidents
such as this occur?

I have since spoken with a number of individuals regarding this matter and
have learned that both state and federal laws exist which state that
breast- feeding is not indecent and women may breastfeed their infants
wherever women
and infants are allowed to be.

I have informed numerous friends about this incident and expect that you
will be receiving additional complaints about this matter.  We wish to make
it clear that we consider breastfeeding rights an imortant issue and that
we will not ignore incidents such as this.

I would appreciate your prompt resonse to this matter and would like to know
precisely what steps will be taken to remedy this situation.

Sincerely,
Catharine C. Decker, M.D.

Sears has got a website and you can email comments at:
www.sears.com/cserv/compln.htm

or you can call the sears photolabs national customer hotline at
1-800-274-3763

you can write them nationally at Sears Portrait Studio  P.O. Box 14369
St. Louis, MO 63178
or write them locally here at Sears Portrait Studio # N14  West Towne
Mall 53 West Towne Mall S/C  Madison, WI 53719

Please consider taking a moment to send them your opinion.  And thanks
complaint.  You'll make my day.  Please do.
Catharine & Charlotte (04-11-97)