Where do mothers breast-feed their children at Binghamton University? It’s a question the majority of undergrads don’t really think about. This semester, the University designated a room for mothers to breast-feed privately. The lactation room is located in the basement of the Old University Union, situated in the center of campus to ensure mothers can access it as much as needed. By opening it, BU became the second SUNY institution to designate this important space and make mothers’ lives easier on campus.
It’s strenuous enough being a student or working on a college campus where private space is hard to come by. Add to that having a young child to care for, and we can’t quite imagine how hard that may be. Balancing work and the task of keeping a child safe and stimulated seems nearly impossible. For this reason, many new mothers (and fathers) opt to take time off. But that should not be the most attractive option for those who wish to continue their education or career with the goal of providing a better life for their children. Having a child should not derail a woman’s career or education, as it so often does. Creating an environment where motherhood and education are not mutually exclusive is a step in the right direction for keeping women in the workforce when they want to be there.
Legally, women can breast-feed anywhere on campus in public view. But in the months leading up to the opening of the lactation room, mothers at Binghamton University expressed that they felt uncomfortable doing so in public. The lactation room is one means of addressing this concern. It’s wonderful that the University designated a space for these women, but at the same time, these mothers’ concerns speak to an underlying stigma against public lactation.
It’s still common to receive strange looks or crass comments if one breast-feeds in public. To women who would otherwise be completely comfortable feeding their babies when nature so calls, this public scorn may serve as an undue deterrent. To those who would rather care for their babies in a private space, this ignorant behavior is still detrimental, as it limits their options anyway. We live in a culture where we are comfortable with women’s bodies being used to sell beer to men, but uncomfortable with breasts fulfilling their evolutionary function: feeding babies.
The problem isn’t unique to Binghamton — it’s something unfortunately ingrained in American culture, but it’s something we ought to be aware of. As students, it is our responsibility to treat breast-feeding mothers with respect and courtesy. It would be better if women felt comfortable breast-feeding in every space on campus and in public, but for those who would rather not subject themselves to derision, the lactation room is a considerate alternative.