He needs education and sensitivity and so does she. The attendant shouldn't be fired, but needs to handle the situation in a much smoother manner. I breastfed both my children because of the health benefits it gives to the children, and I would never suggest a mother not feed her child. But I had friends who seemed insistent on flaunting their entire breast to the public every time they fed and were aggressive about other people's discomfort with their in your face nudity. I, on the other hand, always covered my breast and my child's head with a light cotton receiving blanket and I was sanctimoniously attacked in a grocery store when I was feeding my daughter while I was shopping and totally covered up by two "ladies" who were about ten years beyond my mother's age. Because I was being "indecent". And this was at 10pm, with the baby and myself covered! LOL They had already complained to the management of the store and gotten nowhere. You couldn't even tell for sure when I was, or wasn't nursing...my daughter wouldn't let me let go of her at that point or be away from my heartbeat. I hadn't slept in 8 weeks and she was my second child. Needless to say I didn't find it at all amusing at the time. Now, I accept that there will always be someone whose nose is put out of joint. I did my best to behave like a lady and not embarrass any young man who might have observed me, while fulfilling the needs of my child with what grace it was in my heart to have. And I told the nosy old buddies where they could stick their noses until I was done shopping because I needed to purchase enough food to feed the rest of my family before I returned to my career. The next time they needed to nurse, I was sure the store would accommodate them too.
Sdmp - 9 years ago
He needs education and sensitivity and so does she. The attendant shouldn't be fired, but needs to handle the situation in a much smoother manner. I breastfed both my children because of the health benefits it gives to the children, and I would never suggest a mother not feed her child. But I had friends who seemed insistent on flaunting their entire breast to the public every time they fed and were aggressive about other people's discomfort with their in your face nudity. I, on the other hand, always covered my breast and my child's head with a light cotton receiving blanket and I was sanctimoniously attacked in a grocery store when I was feeding my daughter while I was shopping and totally covered up by two "ladies" who were about ten years beyond my mother's age. Because I was being "indecent". And this was at 10pm, with the baby and myself covered! LOL They had already complained to the management of the store and gotten nowhere. You couldn't even tell for sure when I was, or wasn't nursing...my daughter wouldn't let me let go of her at that point or be away from my heartbeat. I hadn't slept in 8 weeks and she was my second child. Needless to say I didn't find it at all amusing at the time. Now, I accept that there will always be someone whose nose is put out of joint. I did my best to behave like a lady and not embarrass any young man who might have observed me, while fulfilling the needs of my child with what grace it was in my heart to have. And I told the nosy old buddies where they could stick their noses until I was done shopping because I needed to purchase enough food to feed the rest of my family before I returned to my career. The next time they needed to nurse, I was sure the store would accommodate them too.
Patricia Gammon - 9 years ago
I dont think he should be fired and the mom should have coverd up BUT if the flight attendant behaved the way the report sais than that is very wrong. He should have suppied the blanket and politly asked her to cover the child.
frank - 9 years ago
This is ridiculous. Have some respect for others. Yes it is necessary but you don't need everyone to see it. I find it very offensive. What if it was a younger child that saw this? I would not want my child seeing this. To me it is just manners. I am sort of irritated this is getting so much attention. I think she blew it way out of proportion and if he gets fired over this it would be a travesty. My two cents.
Beverley - 9 years ago
My comment should have read "The flight attendant should NOT be fired" .. My error
Beverley - 9 years ago
The flight attendant should be fired. As a woman, I do believe we have the right to publicly breast feed our babies. I do NOT, however, believe that women should make a public display of nursing. There are many convenient options available to comfortably and privately nurse a baby without causing others to feel like they are being exposed to something they are not comfortable viewing. This whole argument is like discussing religion, politics, sexuality or race. You can't MAKE people agree with everything you believe in and trying to force others to accept your beliefs will likely end up in a heated debate. I had no problem DISCRETELY nursing my children by draping myself and my child so that I was not making anyone else uncomfortable. The attendants job is to help ensure comfort and assistance to all passengers. Stop blaming him for doing his job. Be thankful he gave you a blanket ... It's cold without one and since the plane was mid taxi ... He was likely trying to ensure that you were cared for fully before take off. I think it's women like this mom that make things harder for women in general to take a stand against discrimination. Nursing your child shouldn't be a public exhibition nor should you take offence to a flight attendant giving you a FREE blanket and suggesting your husband assist you in aiding your comfort.
Yes breastfeeding should not be frowned upon you should breastfeed anywhere you need to at any given time, but still have respect for others and simply cover up when doing so! It's not that you should feel ashamed but not everyone needs to see your boob! Cover UP!
Neil - 9 years ago
I agree with many others that breast-feeding mothers should cover up when they are breast feeding their children. It makes me uncomfortable if someone is breast-feeding their baby right beside me or or in the vicinity where I am.I do not think anyone should be fired over this he was probably just doing his job and maybe he felt uncomfortable.
Austin The Marxist - 9 years ago
Why does anyone really care? I mean do you people really have nothing else to do other than complain about a breast. Grow up, go focus your energy on something that matters like i don't know how about the environment? Or maybe conflicts that are currently going on around the world, or maybe even try and focus on helping the homeless. It's not your body so mind your damn business. Also finally to all the males here who say "how would they like for me to stare at there boob". You need to grow up the most. Are you that uncivilized that you have to stare at a breast and sexuality it?
Disgusted - 9 years ago
I find this unbelievable that a breastfeeding mother would not cover up when out in public. With todays society and social media, there could be photos or video all over the internet of this now. Be respectful and cover up in public. What if there was a young male sitting beside her staring at her breast? Perhaps the flight attendant could have been a little more polite, but really . . .
Grant - 9 years ago
i think people need to lighten up in the world. If she needed to feed her baby I don't see a dam thing wrong with it and if it makes people feel uncomfortable then don't look and the flight attendant should be canned. For Christ sake it's perfectly natural.
Brandy - 9 years ago
Having breastfed on a plane it is cramped and stuffy. If her baby was latched on no one would have seen her breast. My goodness people expect a breastfeeding mother to completely cover up yet women where shirts that expose way more cleavage then a baby latched on to its mother. That flight attendant needs to be educated and reprimanded.
Chaboy - 9 years ago
How would she have liked if I was next to her staring at her boob.
Skoot - 9 years ago
Yes this is who we are, but even in 2015 some people are still not comfortable with it..So whats wrong with covering,, people have been breast feeding for centuries, and covering. I personally is not a prude, but I really don't want to see your bood either. To me a person should respect others when in public. We live in a no respect for others socialty , We do not live alone on this earth...Respect others and yourself
Alea - 9 years ago
Absolutely, if you're breast feeding in public, COVER UP!
Marianne - 9 years ago
I'm all in favour of breast feeding, but when it's in public, the decent thing to do would be to cover the breast with a small blanket. How hard can this be. As a woman I don't need to look at another woman's breast. This is why People are clothed in public, I'm not about to expose my breasts walking down the street. No excuse if you are breast feeding.
Karen - 9 years ago
I do not think the flight attendant should get any kind of bad publicity or treatment over this. I am a woman and I do feel uncomfortable when I see another woman's breast out in the open. This to me is indecent exposure in a public place, pretty simple. Woman are not allowed to walk around topless, so why do woman who have babies attached to them think it is their right? They should have more class and respect for others and themselves to yes "cover up". Also I do not understand why you would want strangers to see your privates. Ask the woman if she walked around with her breast out for the world to see before she had the child and I am sure her answer would be "no" as it is against the law, so why does she feel she has that right now? The mother said it is a natural thing, sure for her, but what about the men out there and little boys, when all they see is breast, not the baby. Sure we are all sensitive to this action as we have all seen it before but where is her sensitiveness to us the public? Going to the washroom is a natural thing to but you do not see men and woman openly doing it in public places as why, "it is against the law". So do the right thing and cover up out of respect for yourself, your child, your spouse and the public as you are not above the law and not the only person in the world when you are feeding your child. Sure feeding your child is your right but why do I have to see it, it is not my right, not my child, what about my rights? I asked my husband how he feels about this and he said it makes him very, very uncomfortable, and he would prefer not to see the breast out there in the open. If I was on that plane and was sitting where I could see her, I would have asked her to cover up. I have seen a mother change her child's soiled diaper on the floor in a restaurant, to which I said something and the woman argued with me that it was her right, sure it is but where is my rights, this was disgusting, rude, and selfish. She may think their is no comparison but to me there is. In the end, woman please, please cover up out of respect for yourself and others as we do not all feel the same way about it and if not then I feel they should get charged with indecent exposure. Hey I wonder what would happen if I sat down beside a woman who was openly breast feeding and took my top off, maybe sit right beside her spouse, I have very nice breasts so I wonder if that mother would say anything to me? Hmmmmmmm. In closing, just cover up and if you don't it is your conscious decision to deal with the repercussions of negative feelings and comments from the public that may come your way as we all have rights to.
Christine - 9 years ago
Flopping your boob out? Stripper wannabe? Really Kalee? This woman was feeding a BABY. If people had a problem or felt uncomfortable, perhaps the flight attendant should have thrown a blanket at those who complained to wear over their head. Problem solved.
Kim - 9 years ago
I think he should have sensitivity training. Also if people are pushing so hard for babies to be breast fed and not bottle fed, then they do not get a vote on if a mother should cover up. I personally have seen more nudity on a beach then a mother breast feeding her infant.
interestedbystander - 9 years ago
No, of course he shouldn't be fired. And why did she have to make a big deal out of this. Was that her goal.... to push the envelope (so to speak) and see what happens. Ladies.... I breastfed 4 babies and covered up when in public. I truly don't see why the young mom's feel the need to make a statement over something as beautiful as breastfeeding. Its not about the Mother or baby, its about the general public.
Carol - 9 years ago
I meant to say it should NOT be a big problem for you to cover up.
Carol - 9 years ago
These young females that insist on showing everyone that they have boobs are carrying this too far. I breastfed 4 children and I didn't feel the need to show the world that I was feeding them. A large heavy blanket is not necessary. All it takes is a light receiving blanket or even a towel. Nobody is saying you should not feed your baby. We are saying we don't want to see your boobs. Nothing sexual about it either. Just cover up. It should be a big problem for you.
richelle - 9 years ago
The steward should have approached them nicely about covering up instead of tossing them a blanket and not explaining what they are for.
Mary - 9 years ago
He should not be fired. As a breastfeeding mother, I always covered up. I felt more comfortable. This offends no-one. To refuse to use a cover when one is provided is just being difficult. Cameras are everywhere. As a grown up now, my son would not want to see images of him breastfeeding.
Angela - 9 years ago
Maybe there shiukd ve a policy in place regardibf families with small infants and children. Babies nesd to eat and sleep like the rest of society. Maybe specific seating for families. Someone needs to teach the attendant how to deal with awkward situations. Initially it seemed the attendant was offended her husband didnt offer her a blanket to cover up with, which led him to toss the blanket at/to him. But who knows. Breastfeeding is not uncommon. What happened to the good old days when you were scorned for bottle feeding?
Rasputan - 9 years ago
It was recommended to my wife to breastfeed our babies to assist with pressurization discomfort. This makes the flight a more pleasant experience than being trapped in a confined tube with a screaming infant.
The vital issue is the Flight Attendant's choice to support the feelings of at least one passenger over the rights of Kristen and her baby.
Anyone has the potential to make a poor customer service choice when under pressure. Unless this employee has a history of discrimination or poor customer service, they deservice the opportunity to be educated and prove they have the potential to deal with all customers respectfully.
Joyce Easson - 9 years ago
i wonder how this young man would have reacted if the child had screamed for the whole trip because he was hungry? Strong discipline, training if not fired!!
Barb - 9 years ago
People don't get fired for far worse offenses on the job. He acted badly in that he didn't merely offer the blanket and , perhaps, explain that other passengers may feel uncomfortable. This should never be a problem. If it offends them they should merely look away but the stewart's job is to accomodate all passengers. He definitely needs some training in sensitivity and diplomacy if all was as reported. Is it at all possible that his actions were compounded by mutual miscommunication? There are far too many ways to offend these days.
Lisa - 9 years ago
yes...I do think he should be disciplined which could include firing. He was beyond rude and completely tactless. Being a flight attendant REQUIRES the ability to creatively and tactfully address multiple situation. Covering up on an airplane with one of those heavy scratchy blankets they use would have been hot and iuncomfortable for the baby. Since when did we get so self righteous that the needs and comfort of an infant come before our own self-serving judgements? I would say that unless she was sitting on the aisle, those complaining would have to do some serious neck straining to even get an eyeful of what she was doing. I think, mostly likely, in this situation a few people probably needed to mind their own business. The person/people that complained and the flight attendant need to be ashamed.
Dawn - 9 years ago
No I don't think the worker should be fired. Education instead on how to handle the situation more politely would be better than to be rude. I know I don't feel comfortable being beside a mother who is nursing " uncovered". I don't see where we HAVE to accept this. To those of you who don't see a problem being out in the open while nursing, Kudos to you!! We all don't have to accept, myself included.
Sylvie - 9 years ago
Diane, Nova and Theresa, you are definitely a disgrace for women all around the world. If people are offended by so little and natural way of feeding a baby, they should abstain from comments or travelling. Instead they should use their money to EDUCATE themselves before making someone FEEL unaccepted or uncomfortable for no good reasons. You are the IGNORANT ones as well as the flight attendant.
fritz wyssen - 9 years ago
fired---no.
step up sensitivity training absolutly!
asking the mother if she required anything would have been preferred. and then allow her to decide if she wanted a blanket or not.
Kalee - 9 years ago
As a former breast feeding mom I fully support it, anywhere. However I also feel that the mother should adequately cover up. There are thousands of neat products in the market to feed without flopping out your boob. Breast feeding doesn't give the right to females who look like they are acting like stripper wannabees baring all in public. If I was on a plane in close quarters alone or with my young boys absolutely I would be uncomfortable if she exposed her entire breast. At the same time I feel the airline could have been more tactful in their approach but their overall message to cover up a bit, totally appropriate.
Theresa - 9 years ago
I agree with both of these posters...she should have covered up, due to the fact that "some" people might be offended to see an exposed breast...however, on the other hand the flight attendant does need some training in how to handle situations like that a bit more professionally!
nova - 9 years ago
I think she should have covered up if it made some ppl uncomfortable. I've breastfed, just not right out there for the public to see. I feel that is a personal thing, not everyone is comfortable with. Call me old fashioned but that's what I feel is right.
Diane - 9 years ago
He does not need to be fired, he needs education and sensitivity training....
He needs education and sensitivity and so does she. The attendant shouldn't be fired, but needs to handle the situation in a much smoother manner. I breastfed both my children because of the health benefits it gives to the children, and I would never suggest a mother not feed her child. But I had friends who seemed insistent on flaunting their entire breast to the public every time they fed and were aggressive about other people's discomfort with their in your face nudity. I, on the other hand, always covered my breast and my child's head with a light cotton receiving blanket and I was sanctimoniously attacked in a grocery store when I was feeding my daughter while I was shopping and totally covered up by two "ladies" who were about ten years beyond my mother's age. Because I was being "indecent". And this was at 10pm, with the baby and myself covered! LOL They had already complained to the management of the store and gotten nowhere. You couldn't even tell for sure when I was, or wasn't nursing...my daughter wouldn't let me let go of her at that point or be away from my heartbeat. I hadn't slept in 8 weeks and she was my second child. Needless to say I didn't find it at all amusing at the time. Now, I accept that there will always be someone whose nose is put out of joint. I did my best to behave like a lady and not embarrass any young man who might have observed me, while fulfilling the needs of my child with what grace it was in my heart to have. And I told the nosy old buddies where they could stick their noses until I was done shopping because I needed to purchase enough food to feed the rest of my family before I returned to my career. The next time they needed to nurse, I was sure the store would accommodate them too.
He needs education and sensitivity and so does she. The attendant shouldn't be fired, but needs to handle the situation in a much smoother manner. I breastfed both my children because of the health benefits it gives to the children, and I would never suggest a mother not feed her child. But I had friends who seemed insistent on flaunting their entire breast to the public every time they fed and were aggressive about other people's discomfort with their in your face nudity. I, on the other hand, always covered my breast and my child's head with a light cotton receiving blanket and I was sanctimoniously attacked in a grocery store when I was feeding my daughter while I was shopping and totally covered up by two "ladies" who were about ten years beyond my mother's age. Because I was being "indecent". And this was at 10pm, with the baby and myself covered! LOL They had already complained to the management of the store and gotten nowhere. You couldn't even tell for sure when I was, or wasn't nursing...my daughter wouldn't let me let go of her at that point or be away from my heartbeat. I hadn't slept in 8 weeks and she was my second child. Needless to say I didn't find it at all amusing at the time. Now, I accept that there will always be someone whose nose is put out of joint. I did my best to behave like a lady and not embarrass any young man who might have observed me, while fulfilling the needs of my child with what grace it was in my heart to have. And I told the nosy old buddies where they could stick their noses until I was done shopping because I needed to purchase enough food to feed the rest of my family before I returned to my career. The next time they needed to nurse, I was sure the store would accommodate them too.
I dont think he should be fired and the mom should have coverd up BUT if the flight attendant behaved the way the report sais than that is very wrong. He should have suppied the blanket and politly asked her to cover the child.
This is ridiculous. Have some respect for others. Yes it is necessary but you don't need everyone to see it. I find it very offensive. What if it was a younger child that saw this? I would not want my child seeing this. To me it is just manners. I am sort of irritated this is getting so much attention. I think she blew it way out of proportion and if he gets fired over this it would be a travesty. My two cents.
My comment should have read "The flight attendant should NOT be fired" .. My error
The flight attendant should be fired. As a woman, I do believe we have the right to publicly breast feed our babies. I do NOT, however, believe that women should make a public display of nursing. There are many convenient options available to comfortably and privately nurse a baby without causing others to feel like they are being exposed to something they are not comfortable viewing. This whole argument is like discussing religion, politics, sexuality or race. You can't MAKE people agree with everything you believe in and trying to force others to accept your beliefs will likely end up in a heated debate. I had no problem DISCRETELY nursing my children by draping myself and my child so that I was not making anyone else uncomfortable. The attendants job is to help ensure comfort and assistance to all passengers. Stop blaming him for doing his job. Be thankful he gave you a blanket ... It's cold without one and since the plane was mid taxi ... He was likely trying to ensure that you were cared for fully before take off. I think it's women like this mom that make things harder for women in general to take a stand against discrimination. Nursing your child shouldn't be a public exhibition nor should you take offence to a flight attendant giving you a FREE blanket and suggesting your husband assist you in aiding your comfort.
Yes breastfeeding should not be frowned upon you should breastfeed anywhere you need to at any given time, but still have respect for others and simply cover up when doing so! It's not that you should feel ashamed but not everyone needs to see your boob! Cover UP!
I agree with many others that breast-feeding mothers should cover up when they are breast feeding their children. It makes me uncomfortable if someone is breast-feeding their baby right beside me or or in the vicinity where I am.I do not think anyone should be fired over this he was probably just doing his job and maybe he felt uncomfortable.
Why does anyone really care? I mean do you people really have nothing else to do other than complain about a breast. Grow up, go focus your energy on something that matters like i don't know how about the environment? Or maybe conflicts that are currently going on around the world, or maybe even try and focus on helping the homeless. It's not your body so mind your damn business. Also finally to all the males here who say "how would they like for me to stare at there boob". You need to grow up the most. Are you that uncivilized that you have to stare at a breast and sexuality it?
I find this unbelievable that a breastfeeding mother would not cover up when out in public. With todays society and social media, there could be photos or video all over the internet of this now. Be respectful and cover up in public. What if there was a young male sitting beside her staring at her breast? Perhaps the flight attendant could have been a little more polite, but really . . .
i think people need to lighten up in the world. If she needed to feed her baby I don't see a dam thing wrong with it and if it makes people feel uncomfortable then don't look and the flight attendant should be canned. For Christ sake it's perfectly natural.
Having breastfed on a plane it is cramped and stuffy. If her baby was latched on no one would have seen her breast. My goodness people expect a breastfeeding mother to completely cover up yet women where shirts that expose way more cleavage then a baby latched on to its mother. That flight attendant needs to be educated and reprimanded.
How would she have liked if I was next to her staring at her boob.
Yes this is who we are, but even in 2015 some people are still not comfortable with it..So whats wrong with covering,, people have been breast feeding for centuries, and covering. I personally is not a prude, but I really don't want to see your bood either. To me a person should respect others when in public. We live in a no respect for others socialty , We do not live alone on this earth...Respect others and yourself
Absolutely, if you're breast feeding in public, COVER UP!
I'm all in favour of breast feeding, but when it's in public, the decent thing to do would be to cover the breast with a small blanket. How hard can this be. As a woman I don't need to look at another woman's breast. This is why People are clothed in public, I'm not about to expose my breasts walking down the street. No excuse if you are breast feeding.
I do not think the flight attendant should get any kind of bad publicity or treatment over this. I am a woman and I do feel uncomfortable when I see another woman's breast out in the open. This to me is indecent exposure in a public place, pretty simple. Woman are not allowed to walk around topless, so why do woman who have babies attached to them think it is their right? They should have more class and respect for others and themselves to yes "cover up". Also I do not understand why you would want strangers to see your privates. Ask the woman if she walked around with her breast out for the world to see before she had the child and I am sure her answer would be "no" as it is against the law, so why does she feel she has that right now? The mother said it is a natural thing, sure for her, but what about the men out there and little boys, when all they see is breast, not the baby. Sure we are all sensitive to this action as we have all seen it before but where is her sensitiveness to us the public? Going to the washroom is a natural thing to but you do not see men and woman openly doing it in public places as why, "it is against the law". So do the right thing and cover up out of respect for yourself, your child, your spouse and the public as you are not above the law and not the only person in the world when you are feeding your child. Sure feeding your child is your right but why do I have to see it, it is not my right, not my child, what about my rights? I asked my husband how he feels about this and he said it makes him very, very uncomfortable, and he would prefer not to see the breast out there in the open. If I was on that plane and was sitting where I could see her, I would have asked her to cover up. I have seen a mother change her child's soiled diaper on the floor in a restaurant, to which I said something and the woman argued with me that it was her right, sure it is but where is my rights, this was disgusting, rude, and selfish. She may think their is no comparison but to me there is. In the end, woman please, please cover up out of respect for yourself and others as we do not all feel the same way about it and if not then I feel they should get charged with indecent exposure. Hey I wonder what would happen if I sat down beside a woman who was openly breast feeding and took my top off, maybe sit right beside her spouse, I have very nice breasts so I wonder if that mother would say anything to me? Hmmmmmmm. In closing, just cover up and if you don't it is your conscious decision to deal with the repercussions of negative feelings and comments from the public that may come your way as we all have rights to.
Flopping your boob out? Stripper wannabe? Really Kalee? This woman was feeding a BABY. If people had a problem or felt uncomfortable, perhaps the flight attendant should have thrown a blanket at those who complained to wear over their head. Problem solved.
I think he should have sensitivity training. Also if people are pushing so hard for babies to be breast fed and not bottle fed, then they do not get a vote on if a mother should cover up. I personally have seen more nudity on a beach then a mother breast feeding her infant.
No, of course he shouldn't be fired. And why did she have to make a big deal out of this. Was that her goal.... to push the envelope (so to speak) and see what happens. Ladies.... I breastfed 4 babies and covered up when in public. I truly don't see why the young mom's feel the need to make a statement over something as beautiful as breastfeeding. Its not about the Mother or baby, its about the general public.
I meant to say it should NOT be a big problem for you to cover up.
These young females that insist on showing everyone that they have boobs are carrying this too far. I breastfed 4 children and I didn't feel the need to show the world that I was feeding them. A large heavy blanket is not necessary. All it takes is a light receiving blanket or even a towel. Nobody is saying you should not feed your baby. We are saying we don't want to see your boobs. Nothing sexual about it either. Just cover up. It should be a big problem for you.
The steward should have approached them nicely about covering up instead of tossing them a blanket and not explaining what they are for.
He should not be fired. As a breastfeeding mother, I always covered up. I felt more comfortable. This offends no-one. To refuse to use a cover when one is provided is just being difficult. Cameras are everywhere. As a grown up now, my son would not want to see images of him breastfeeding.
Maybe there shiukd ve a policy in place regardibf families with small infants and children. Babies nesd to eat and sleep like the rest of society. Maybe specific seating for families. Someone needs to teach the attendant how to deal with awkward situations. Initially it seemed the attendant was offended her husband didnt offer her a blanket to cover up with, which led him to toss the blanket at/to him. But who knows. Breastfeeding is not uncommon. What happened to the good old days when you were scorned for bottle feeding?
It was recommended to my wife to breastfeed our babies to assist with pressurization discomfort. This makes the flight a more pleasant experience than being trapped in a confined tube with a screaming infant.
The vital issue is the Flight Attendant's choice to support the feelings of at least one passenger over the rights of Kristen and her baby.
Anyone has the potential to make a poor customer service choice when under pressure. Unless this employee has a history of discrimination or poor customer service, they deservice the opportunity to be educated and prove they have the potential to deal with all customers respectfully.
i wonder how this young man would have reacted if the child had screamed for the whole trip because he was hungry? Strong discipline, training if not fired!!
People don't get fired for far worse offenses on the job. He acted badly in that he didn't merely offer the blanket and , perhaps, explain that other passengers may feel uncomfortable. This should never be a problem. If it offends them they should merely look away but the stewart's job is to accomodate all passengers. He definitely needs some training in sensitivity and diplomacy if all was as reported. Is it at all possible that his actions were compounded by mutual miscommunication? There are far too many ways to offend these days.
yes...I do think he should be disciplined which could include firing. He was beyond rude and completely tactless. Being a flight attendant REQUIRES the ability to creatively and tactfully address multiple situation. Covering up on an airplane with one of those heavy scratchy blankets they use would have been hot and iuncomfortable for the baby. Since when did we get so self righteous that the needs and comfort of an infant come before our own self-serving judgements? I would say that unless she was sitting on the aisle, those complaining would have to do some serious neck straining to even get an eyeful of what she was doing. I think, mostly likely, in this situation a few people probably needed to mind their own business. The person/people that complained and the flight attendant need to be ashamed.
No I don't think the worker should be fired. Education instead on how to handle the situation more politely would be better than to be rude. I know I don't feel comfortable being beside a mother who is nursing " uncovered". I don't see where we HAVE to accept this. To those of you who don't see a problem being out in the open while nursing, Kudos to you!! We all don't have to accept, myself included.
Diane, Nova and Theresa, you are definitely a disgrace for women all around the world. If people are offended by so little and natural way of feeding a baby, they should abstain from comments or travelling. Instead they should use their money to EDUCATE themselves before making someone FEEL unaccepted or uncomfortable for no good reasons. You are the IGNORANT ones as well as the flight attendant.
fired---no.
step up sensitivity training absolutly!
asking the mother if she required anything would have been preferred. and then allow her to decide if she wanted a blanket or not.
As a former breast feeding mom I fully support it, anywhere. However I also feel that the mother should adequately cover up. There are thousands of neat products in the market to feed without flopping out your boob. Breast feeding doesn't give the right to females who look like they are acting like stripper wannabees baring all in public. If I was on a plane in close quarters alone or with my young boys absolutely I would be uncomfortable if she exposed her entire breast. At the same time I feel the airline could have been more tactful in their approach but their overall message to cover up a bit, totally appropriate.
I agree with both of these posters...she should have covered up, due to the fact that "some" people might be offended to see an exposed breast...however, on the other hand the flight attendant does need some training in how to handle situations like that a bit more professionally!
I think she should have covered up if it made some ppl uncomfortable. I've breastfed, just not right out there for the public to see. I feel that is a personal thing, not everyone is comfortable with. Call me old fashioned but that's what I feel is right.
He does not need to be fired, he needs education and sensitivity training....