A small but passionate group of mothers and toddlers gathered outside the Sunrise studios this morning, to protest against comments by David Koch that breast-feeding mothers should keep themselves “classy.”
Despite over 800 indicating they would attend the numbers appeared to be much closer to several dozen, but they held signs and balloons as some breastfed their babies. Their friendly protest meant the police on standby weren’t necessary.
The group was only visible sporadically throughout this morning’s show, some of which included crosses to Melissa Doyle in Washington ahead of the Obama inauguration.
Inside David Koch was joined by Samantha Armytage, who hosted a debate with the protest organiser, Amy Ahearn after 8am.
Koch held his ground on the issue, carefully advocating a mother’s right to breastfeed “anywhere, anytime” but that mothers should respect their environment and other people and “be discreet.” He said that of his two daughters currently breastfeeding, both had taken different sides on the debate.
Ahearn told Koch that while his comments were well-intentioned they had done more damage than he realised.
“By saying that women should cover up or be discreet, that word has a shame connotation,” she said.
“You shouldn’t have to run and hide in a room or a toilet or any other area. It’s just a part of life.”
Koch replied, “I think you should breast-feed anywhere, anytime at all, it’s just that I think you’ve got to be aware of your environment, and to show respect to others and common courtesy to others …. and they should show respect to you as well. But depending on the situation to be discreet and to be modest.
“I think if you’re breast-feeding uncovered then you need to do it discreetly.”
He also apologised if he had offended anybody.
The issue was also tackled in another Kochie’s Angels segment (2 of whom disagreed with him) before Koch was presented with a collage photo of breastfeeding mums at the end of the show.
@PJs Ronins
No doubt though, Kochie and many of us blokes of all ages have the size and shape that suggests we are only missing the hormones and the internal piping, stopping us from enjoying the bonding that breast feeding obviously develops.
In regards to “sensitivities”, perhaps if both the 50.2% and 49.8% had been more “sensitive” .towards each others right to have an opinion.
So many mums,young bubs/siblings would not have to been woken so early on monday morning, travel to the noisy city in various modes of morning traffic, and be fed out in the hot morning sun, amid a busy Hydrocarbon drifting environment, that possibly some of the youngs ones may have been very sensitive too?
I wonder what the reaction would have been if Kochie had chosen that location for such a protest?
Sunrise did include Martin Place background too, but maybe not as much as usual. It was a mix of both.
Apologies David … that fired me up! I’m usually a peacemaker but am feeling quite annoyed!
On the subject, though, of the broadcast I thought it amusing that the studio used a pic backdrop rather than the usual view to Martin Place outside. I didn’t see the entire segment, but think that was the case? Happy to be corrected.
Wow, reading some of these comments and I feel like I’m back in the 50s … I’d hazard a guess that most of the commenters have never tried to wrangle a hungry baby who needs a feed. I can tell you that the last thing you’re thinking about is whether you’re showing a bit too much boob. It’s not always appropriate (heat) to cover a baby’s head while feeding and it saddens me that there’s still a sexualisation of what is such a fundamental part of being a Mum. And for the drongo who suggested going into a toilet to feed, let me know when you’ve eaten your lunch in there and we’ll have a chat.
Simple message Koch… if the sight of a woman breastfeeding offends your sensitivities, don’t look. Just because you have a mouth and a microphone does not give you carte blanche to critique 50.2% of the population, especially over a subject you yourself are incapable of performing.
@ jonno, I was thinking the same thing. It was obviously said tongue in cheek.
@TasTvcameraman- I think maybe you are a bit too sensitive. when Kockie told that British star that Home & Away is better than Neighbours, i believe it was said in a light hearted comedic way.
Wow all those women turning out was a great promotion for Sunrise, making the news and all. Was the entire thing a setup from the get go?
Some people are way too sensitive, and I agree with Kochie, I do not normally agree with his comments. I remember he was interviewing a British star sometime ago and she said that she liked “Neighbours” Kochie said no “Home and Away ” was better, virtually telling the star that she had no sense in watching “Neighbours” . OK I get it H&A is a 7 show, but you do not slam your views down a stars throat.
@yum-e: It is strange that you refer to dinosaurs, and wishing Death Upon Others? and which also consequently includes the caveman era,and I’ve yet to see any records of cave paintings etc, depicting cavemen, demanding that breast feeding cave women pull up their animal skins to cover their breasts whilst breast feeding their young, do you know something that many others of us do not?
Please do not misconstrue my comments in anyway as being personal towards you, but it has been the lack of compromise(driven by outright greed) that has started Many Wars over Many Years and to this day Greed and the Lack of Compromise take us to the Brink of another GFC almost daily, and what two better examples can there be, than the current USA ecconomy issues and Gun Control in that same country.
Not being a breast feeding man, I wonder if some mums ask other siblings as they grow older, how they feel about breast feeding in public, and if they are even slightly embarrased by their mum(as I know many are) and do wonder where their so called preduices are formed given their parental environment, could this be part of individual personalities just growing up?
It made the TEN eventing news LOL
Kochie is eating this up!
There’s no such thing as bad publicity
Listing to the radio news and it sounds like Koch made things worse today.
I completely agree with Kochie, he was supporting women’s rights to breastfeed in public, but to be mindful of those around them. Sunrise had shots during the debate of all the mother’s breastfeeding and all (bar one) were completely covered anyway. Seems like people are just oversensitive with choice of words used, classy etc..
It’s “wonderful” to know that there is a second wave of dinosaurs like this that we have to wait to die, before society can move on with issues like this, and gay marriage, etc ….. “marvelous”!
I wonder what the response would be if some of my dero mates, sat down opposite and stared at something just above and behind a breast feeding mum?
I watched sunrise this morning, and what I did see was a lot of $5000.00 baby bonuses on parade.
I personally think Grant’s input this morning was not helpful to either point of view, but with Grant, his inuendo’s are nearly always borderline for an early morning time slot, and obviously condoned by the EP who puts them to air.
Also this morning the number of only 7 other patrons(did that include the bub’s siblings?) being at the pool at the time, was raised again, so I ask how many of the 7 objected at the time, because with such low numbers, if only 4 objected, this would equate to over 50% of the patrons objecting to exagerate the figures, as much as the reactions have been.
Totally agree with David Koch’s comments and I am female. I am also glad that he did not backpedal and give in to this lobby group, but stood his ground and justified his comment. Of course breastfeeding in public should be done with discretion and with due consideration for the environment the mother and baby are in. Koch’s comments were not malicious, they did not invite ridicule of breastfeeding women and they were not out of step with community standards. He was vilified for no good reason.
Good on Kochie for expressing and maintaining his opinion. No doubt certain people will say this is not a suitable analogy, but if a male needs to urinate suddenly, it is illegal for him to do it in public, even harmlessly against a tree, even if there are no members of the public present who could be offended. Yet these women think it is ok to openly show their breasts to all and sundry whilst breastfeeding. And it is a fact that there is not always a toilet available when the need arises !
Sorry David (not attacking, just like a robust debate), but…
Highlighting the rise of social media activism where people click “yes” to show their support but when it comes to actually doing something they don’t bother isn’t helpful? I think it is very relevant to the story.
Voicing my opinion like every else on this site isn’t helpful?
Making an analogy where two women expose themselves, under different circumstances, isn’t helpful? The end of the day, it’s the same situation wherein people feel uncomfortable seeing breasts in public, irrespective of if it’s to feed a baby or if it’s some woman sun baking. In both cases there would be people upset by it and who would complain. The reason women don’t go bikni-less at a pool is because of moral guidance and public norms. Just because you are feeding a baby, why should those norms be automatically thrown out the window? No one is asking for these women to be shunned, just be discrete.
I thought both sides handled the issue well. They both made good points without it getting heated. Congratulations to Sunrise for facing the backlash and to the mums that put their case forward. I also found it fascinating how social media can now take on mainstream media. We can now all have a say making mainstream media more accountable and debates more inclusive.
Don’t think those comments or analogies are particularly helpful.
Kony 2012 better look out! Another slacktivist cause may over take it for worse lack of turn out yet… Good on Kochie for holding his ground. His comments were no way inflammatory, he simply advocated that discretion be used in public situations. Is it so hard to throw a sheet over you? I’m sure if a woman pulled out her breasts by the pool for sunbathing purposes the same mothers would kick up a stink about indecency
And Sunrise “milked” it for all it was worth. Shot of the day was grant standing in front of the 2 Observatory domes.
Grants comments at the 8am weather were really bad. Kochie has a right to express his opinion, just as I have a right to think he is a doshe bag for making them
He’s right. “… show respect to others and common courtesy to others”. Unfortunately “modest” is a word unknown to many “modern” mothers.
Hardly so newsworthy though for ABC to devote time to it in their news bar.
Opinions on the issue aside, Sunrise and Michael Pell showed once again how to tackle the “controversy” – head on. They did not shy away from it and are always more than happy to cop criticism.