Mums host ‘group boobing’ protest after woman shamed in clothing store

In a show of solidarity for a new mum who said she was humiliated when she asked if she could breastfeed in a shop, an irate group of mums is staging a ‘group boobing’ there tomorrow.

Gizem Staveley, with daughter Lila, was told she could not breastfeed at a store in Werribee Plaza.

Defiant mothers will host a “group boobing” protest this week, after a woman was told she could not feed her hungry bub at a Werribee clothing store.

Gizem Staveley was shopping at Danielas, a women’s clothing store at Werribee Plaza, last Tuesday, when she asked the shop attendant if she could feed her crying three-month-old on a chair at the back of the store while her grandma and aunty tried on clothes.

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The first-time mum says the staff member told her she couldn’t, because “men also walked into the shop too”.

The Taylors Lakes mum — who said she felt instant “mum rage” — told the staffer it was illegal to discriminate against mums feeding in public, and went ahead and fed her baby anyway.

She’ll now join more than 30 other mums to take part in a protest tomorrow, where they will attend the store and breastfeed together.
Some will feed inside the small store, and some are expected to stand outside in solidarity.

“It’s important to me, because first of all, my baby can’t stand up for herself and should be able to eat in public like everyone else,” Ms Staveley said.

“I felt really irritated with this because I feed on demand and I didn’t see anything wrong with feeding there.

“I’ve always been supported in other stores... and always cover myself with a wrap so no one can see anything.

“For other mums, they don’t want to do it in public and I want to encourage them.
“My aunty tried on a dress with so much cleavage showing. I wasn’t even showing that much boob.”

Point Cook mum Carlie Davies with six-month-old daughter Rowan

After sharing her story on a breastfeeding support Facebook page, fellow mum Carlie Davies, of Point Cook, organised the public “boobing” event.

Several mums showed their support on a Facebook post about the protest, with some saying they’d breastfeed dolls or borrow babies, as their kids were now too old.

Ms Davies, who regularly breastfeeds her six-month-old daughter Rowan in public, said mums should not be shamed for feeding their hungry babies.

“This mum was made to feel ashamed but she stood up for herself,” Ms Davies said.

“I want to get this out into the public a bit more because so many people are still scared to feed in public.

“We want to show mothers from all different walks of life that it’s fine to feed your baby and you shouldn’t have to hide in a parents room.”

The first time mum said she’d had a man shake his head at her for feeding in public once, but mostly other men and elderly people were supportive and had told her it was great she was feeding her baby naturally.

“I’m not shy — it’s natural and I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Ms Davies said.

“It’s not sexual and I’ve even fed my baby in church at a funeral.”

Under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984, it is illegal in Australia to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly on the grounds of breastfeeding.

Danielas has been contacted for comment.

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