Parsing Words

Pennsylvania has become the latest state (the 39th) to enact a law giving women the right to breastfeed in public without worrying that they will be found criminally liable. The law states that women may do so, covered or not, without it being considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual conduct or obscenity. The Pennsylvania Commission for Women says that while the law isn’t perfect it’s a “wonderful first step.” And it is.

But, rather than celebrate this milestone, activists are insisting that the law isn’t good enough. They say giving women the “freedom” to breastfeed in public is different from giving women the “right” to do so. The Reading Eagle newspaper, one of many covering the signing of the law, quotes activist, Leigh Bellini, as saying, “We needed enforcement provisions...It doesn’t give us any right because the word ‘right’ is not within the law.”

State Sen. Connie Williams was the prime sponsor of the breast-feeding bill. The original wording of the bill used “right” but was changed to “freedom” when she realized the bill would stall in the state Senate without the modification. Apparently Senate Republicans took issue with calling breast-feeding a right. “In the eyes of many Republicans, Williams said, listing breast-feeding as a right would have equated it to such basic freedoms as those described in the Bill of Rights.”

Being good at what she does (the game of politics), Sen. Williams made the change all in the name of furthering the cause. According to the article, Sen. Williams says the language used in the bill is such that it's equal to the word "right" in that it "means it (breastfeeding in public) must be permitted.” And, according to her, the Pennsylvania law uses the same language as most legislation in the other 38 states.

So back to our activists. I’m sure Ms. Bellini is a smart woman. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the politics of moving something important through a legislature. One has to think of the greater good. For all intents and purposes, whether you use the word “freedom” or “right” the law in Pennsylvania gives women the authority they need to breastfeed in public without worry. Let’s celebrate that!