Stuck Up Working Moms Shame American University Professor
This week in the national news brought out a new breastfeeding story. A professor at American University in Washington D.C. ran into a real life dilemma many working moms deal with, when her baby got sick, and her childcare fell through. Something that happens to a lot of mothers today.
Instead of freaking out and canceling class for the day, she did what most working mothers wish they would be able to do… bring their baby to work.
The story is a mix of shaming on the mother for bringing her child to work, and of course the typical breastfeeding in public. You would think college students would know what breasts actually used for by the time they hit a major university, right?
Unfortunately for the professor, she has a bunch of douche-a-roo students who in turn felt the need to make this some kind of national headline. Feeding a baby instead of a dorm room girls gone wild episode.
But that is not why I am really that mad. I mean, I get really upset when people have something to say about nursing in public. I really do. But the comments some of the working mothers left on articles all over the internet really chapped my ass.
“She brings shame on all working moms who manage these predictable issues without whining and blame. If she had a job where it wasn’t an option to bring the baby to work (chef, bus driver, pilot) she would do what the rest of us do and make it work.”
Instead of giving the mom a huge high five, which she deserves for being able to not only multi-task, but show that working mothers are complete renaissance women, they want to hate on her. This is the root of the problem when it comes to women from all backgrounds. Instead of lifting each other up, we want to tear each other down.
My comment for the working mothers hating? Get the fuck over yourselves! For real! Get your shit together and support an amazing woman, setting an amazing example. Not only for her daughter, but for all the men and women she is teaching. The message she is sending by simply taking care of her sick baby while continuing to teach without issue is worth far more than the negative comments.
As for the professor, she don’t give a rats ass what anyone has to say. Her statement?
“I doubt anyone saw my nipple, because I’m pretty good at covering it. I was shocked and annoyed that this would be considered newsworthy. Do university students really need to be so mollycoddled that they should not see something I do on public transportation nearly every day?”
In turn, all I have to say is… Get over yourselves.
Working moms, stay at home moms, they’re both extremely hard jobs.
Hilary Rosen
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Tags: american university, breastfeeding, professor, working moms
I, too, have been shocked by the backlash she has received. Like you, I thought it was pretty great that she was able to do her job and take care of her baby. I was a little jealous that she had that option, and I’m pretty sure that the working moms who are condemning her also feel some jealousy and that’s probably part of what is feeding the negative comments. Most working moms wish they had this kind of flexibility! Another thing that annoyed me about this whole thing is that I noticed none of the students complained about the baby being there, only about the baby being breastfed. I might could understand if the baby was disrupting the class and they didn’t feel like they had the professor’s attention. But no one has mentioned that at all, so it feels like they are just being childish about seeing her breastfeed.
The quote says that she’d just have to “make it work” if she had a job where she couldn’t bring the baby – um, she DID make it work! Good for her. As a nursing mom (of my 3rd baby), I also don’t care what others think if I need to feed my son in public. I’m covered up so no one should be bothered at all!
Get the fuck over yourselves. I LOVE THAT line. It’s hard enough to be a parent, why can’t we all just support each other, and not pass judgement.
I cannot believe this was made into a news story.
I’m kind of in awe of her for finding a way to make this work. When my second one was a baby I was very fortunate to be able to work somewhere that I could bring him with me and it was hard without adding breastfeeding into the mix.
I wasn’t in the classroom so I have no idea how she handled the situation, and I know there are two sides to every story, but I agree with you, mothers should support mothers. Period.
This kind of reminds me of people who hate on unions for having the ability to strike. Sounds like pure jealousy. She has a job where she can bring her baby to work! What a freaking bonus. Instead of tearing each other apart, we really should be demanding those rights for ourselves…. People are stupid sometimes.
Good for her for making it work! She was able to bring the baby to work, so why wouldn’t she want to spend that extra time with her sick child?
Wow, how closed minded. Good for you for bringing your child to work with you and not letting people shame you into feeding her formula instead of the milk we mothers, working or not, make especially for our babies. Isn’t it a wonder that we ony make milk when we have babies? Doesnt that tell you that is what it is meant for. I am so tired of this argument! Idiots.