Breastfeeding or Bust: The Need for Legislation to Protect a Mother's Right to Express Breast Milk at Work

Authors

Elissa Aaronson Goodman, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note argues that current federal legislation, including Title VII, the ADA, and the FMLA, fails to adequately protect women's rights to express breast milk in the workplace. It advocates for a federal statute specifically addressing this issue, as existing laws are insufficient due to narrow interpretations and lack of explicit protections. The note emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding for infant health and maternal well-being, while also highlighting the benefits for employers, such as reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs. Without federal legislation, women face significant barriers to expressing breast milk at work, perpetuating disparities in breastfeeding rates.

Disciplines

Labor and Employment Law | Law | Law and Gender | Legislation | Sexuality and the Law

Recommended Citation

Elissa A. Goodman, Breastfeeding or Bust: The Need for Legislation to Protect a Mother's Right to Express Breast Milk at Work, 10 Cardozo J. Equal Rts. & Soc. Just. 146 (2003).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cardozoersj/vol10/iss1/6