I feel embarrassed tbh, to even be talking about this. I am a mom of a 9-month-old. I'd love to stay at home chillin' in my PJs, Netflix all day every day with my kid playing around. But, every now and then I wish to go out and I want my kid to see the world as well. I want to take him out and see new faces and new places! Just 2 weeks back we celebrated Women's Day... I still think that such a day is so overrated. Women in corporate offices get some nice goodies, women at home are wished by their husbands (or not), and women together share in their WhatsApp status. But is that really it? We women have certain privileges like a facility in malls and public spaces for breastfeeding mothers to feed their babies. It's no wonder women everywhere are screaming for their rights because we are still denied things like a clean well-maintained feeding room!
Marina Mall- Navalur, Chennai
image source: Wikipedia
Yesterday I visited the Marina Mall in Chennai which is situated near Navalur. The feeding room or mother care room reminds me of a haunted house. the lights are flickering, the fan isn't working, and there is no couch to sit on. The main door to the room says "This room is sanitized every day".. ummm... I mean... I highly doubt that to be true. I couldn't believe what I saw, yet I had to use it as there wasn't any other option, and just like all other Indian women, I had to adjust to it and feed my baby.
Phoenix Market City- Velachery, Chennai
image source: Wikipedia
You might think Phoenix would definitely be neat right? Yes, comparatively it was better... only until I saw a rat pass in front of me while I was breastfeeding.
There are many breastfeeding or Mothercare rooms on every floor of these malls. But the quality varies on every floor.
Not just in Chennai, when I was in Trivandrum I had visited the Lulu Mall there. The feeding rooms on every floor were different. One of the concerning issues is that these rooms lack Air Conditioning. A mother and baby must be comfortable to feed the baby. In Lulu, there were Air Coolers placed, but if 2 moms were sitting they would definitely be sitting apart and these air coolers are no good. the swivel mode wasn't working and one of the mothers would have to sweat in there. On the other hand, when I visited Wonder La in Kochi with my baby, there were feeding rooms everywhere and they were well-maintained to an extent. There were beds to lie down if you'd like, and my baby was cranky that day but, I was able to feed him and put him to sleep and go back to having fun! Being a mother shouldn't let you stop having fun!
It's just so depressing and worrisome. Even after all these women's rights, women empowerment, and women CEO talks, such basic amenities are yet so basic.
Malls... listen to me. Don't be lazy... yeah I get it. The breastfeeding rooms aren't used that often. That doesn't mean that you can be careless about it. The customers pay you for the parking space, and the service charges are too high for everything we do in there... why can't you treat a mother well? A mother is already going through enough obstacles per day. It's time you up your game and treat women right. Treat mothers right.
I would have to think twice now whenever I step into a mall. Don't do that to me!
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