Until recently, breastfeeding mothers in Ohio could have been forced to leave institutions by the request of business patrons. This will no longer be the case as the Ohio legislature recently passed a bill stating that women will have the right to breastfeed in any public place regardless of possible complaints by storeowners. Although the premise of the bill is a good idea, the legislation lacks teeth in its enforcement of the new guidelines. The bill provides no recourse if property owners violate the new law, and without concrete consequences or procedures the bill is more style than substance.
The bill's big glitch could rear its ugly head if and when situations arise where a breastfeeding mother could possibly be asked to leave. The bill does not specify a punishment for the institution at fault. So, when it came down to the actual situation, the only protection the woman would have is fierce rhetoric and a firm belief in the conscience of a law-abiding citizen. The storeowner might comply with the law, but they have little incentive to do so.
The positive policy was created in response to the need to alleviate embarrassment and outline specific rights to mothers if they choose the healthier option of breastfeeding their child instead of formula.
Everyone has seen the signs posted on front of dusty business doors reading, No shirt
no shoes no service. While on those hot summer days most begrudgingly find their sandals and tank tops, women who are nursing their babies will no longer have to comply with stores' decency requests. Some institutions have built nursing areas and family bathrooms specifically to identify with both the needs of women and the liability to their customers concerning spilled milk, baby vomit or just a general discomfort one might feel towards breastfeeding. However, the new bill would not allow patrons to ask mothers to refrain from breastfeeding or to use the specially provided facilities, unless the mother willingly complied.
While the interests of owners are considerable, and those facilities still should be encouraged for more options, it seems that although the legislation is good in theory, the legislature needs to provide the legislation with a backbone for it to achieve the desired results.
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