Queensland mother has lashed out against the retail giant Kmart after she was told it was ‘unhygienic and wrong’ to breastfeed her six-month-old in an empty change room.
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While shopping at the Stocklands store in Rockhampton, Queensland on Tuesday, Whitley Magnussen claims she was told by two staff members she should not be feeding in the change room.
‘I explained to them both that it’s my legal right to breastfeed wherever I want however both of the staff members were quick to jump down my throat with reasons why I shouldn’t do it,’ Ms Magnussen wrote in a heated post on Facebook.
‘[They said] if they had known my intentions they would’ve “refused entry” to me (even though I also had clothes to try on).
‘I took him straight over to the fitting room attendant,’ she said.
‘After her store manager and I had explained what she said was horribly wrong and extremely discriminating she still claimed that it was unhygienic and wrong so all I got was a quick blunt “I’m sorry” – the other staff member was no where to be seen and did not apologise.’
The Queensland mother said she ‘has no doubt they will discriminate against another breastfeeding mum again.’
Ms Magnussen posted a message on the official Kmart Facebook page on Tuesday night and it has been shared more than 60 times.
***Just a warning to any breastfeeding mums that shop at Kmart in Stocklands Rockhampton.***
I was told by 2 female staff members today that it was unhygienic and wrong to breastfeed my 6 month old daughter in the (completely empty) female fitting rooms and that if they had known my intentions they would’ve “refused entry” to me (even though I also had clothes to try on). They didn’t say this ‘politely’ to me, they ganged up on me and shouted this at me across the store floor in front of other customers (a staff member over heard the fitting room attendant abusing me so she decided to join in).
I explained to them both that it’s my legal right to breastfeed wherever I want however both of the staff members were quick to jump down my throat with reasons why I shouldn’t do it (“I’m taking up valuable fitting room space, I could get milk in there, it’s not meant for mothers, it’s unhygienic” etc.)
I politely told them both to “F@”K OFF!” and went straight to the store manager George, he was immediately apologetic and agreed it was my legal right to breastfeed where I may and that he will speak to the staff members at the store. I told him it’s not good enough and I wanted an apology from the staff members that discriminated against me – after a lot of back and forth “it’s ok I can apologise for them”, “no I want them to say sorry” he finally agreed, so I took him straight over to the fitting room attendant.
After her store manager and I had explained what she said was horribly wrong and extremely discriminating she still claimed that it was unhygienic and wrong so all I got was a quick blunt “I’m sorry” – the other staff member was no where to be seen and did not apologise.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that they will discriminate against another breastfeeding mum again so please, feel free to breastfeed freely in Kmart in ANY section of the store. You are 100% legally allowed to.
Kmart were quick to respond, apologising for ‘her experience’ and asking her to contact them direct.
What a dreadful experience for Whitley and her bub. I really hope the staff are taught a lesson in manners if nothing else!
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