The article’s title is A Breastfeeding Rights Victory: Rigby’s Water World Revisions Policy.
An incident of breastfeeding discrimination at Rigby’s Water World sparked a public outcry and led to changes in their policies.
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The incident, which involved a nursing mother by the name of Francis, highlights the challenges faced by breastfeeding women in public settings and the importance of upholding their legal rights.
Francis recalled being asked to stop breastfeeding her child while in the water at a water park.
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When a woman approached her and enforced the “no breastfeeding” ban after she had already started nursing her child, she initially thought it was a cruel joke. However, she was horrified.
She made an effort to stop out of respect, but it wasn’t simple with the baby already fastened.
Surprisingly, there was no mention of kids in the water park rules, other than the requirement that infants wear swim diapers, which Francis’s son dutifully did.
Frustrated and seeking clarification, she asked to speak with a manager but was only told, “No food or drinks in the water. ”.
Francis shared her dissatisfaction on social media, emphasizing that when breastfeeding her child, her breast was out of the water and the milk went straight into the baby’s mouth.
She questioned the priorities of a water park that appeared more concerned with breast milk than other human fluids in the pool. She was there to feed her baby, a natural and protected right, not to consume food in the water.
Francis emphasized that the practice was legal and protected under Georgia law, which permits breastfeeding in any area where the mother and child are allowed to be.
Notably, breastfeeding is legal in all 50 states, including Georgia, and only 31 of them consider it to be a form of public indecency, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
As word of the incident spread and people gathered around Francis to support her cause, pressure on Rigby’s Water World grew. Two days after the incident, Francis received a personal apology from the vice president of operations at the water park, Steve Brown.
The breastfeeding policy at Rigby’s was swiftly updated, and the company also informed staff members about the law in this regard.
Breastfeeding had always been permitted in other parts of the park, according to Brown. He claimed that according to the health department’s regulations, which forbade eating or drinking in pools, their previous policy, which prohibited breastfeeding in rivers, was in violation.
However, Rigby’s changed its mind, consulted with experts in aquatic facilities, and learned of the law allowing breastfeeding anywhere women are allowed before deciding to permit it.
Brown admitted the legal misunderstanding and took full responsibility for the “misguided” policy. The incident led Rigby’s Water World to modify its policy and permit mothers to openly nurse their infants anywhere on the park’s grounds.
The water park decided not to reinstate Francis’s seasonal pass despite the revised policy and the apology, which Francis found disappointing and made her hesitant to visit Rigby’s again.
The incident is a stark reminder of breastfeeding mothers’ challenges in society, where some experience stigma and discrimination.
An advancement in recognizing and defending the rights of breastfeeding women can be seen in Francis’ support and the policy changes at Rigby’s Water World.
Although this story has a happy ending, it demonstrates the need for greater breastfeeding rights awareness and education. Incidents like this emphasize the importance of a more accepting society and the right of nursing mothers to nurse their infants wherever they choose.
By supporting and advocating for the right to breastfeed, we foster a more loving environment for women and their children.
