There are many reasons why men should be jealous of women, but having a short break from work so a tiny hungry human can chomp painfully at your breast is probably not one of them.
A user of an online forum for the Chinese University of Hong Kong this week complained that the institution is discriminating against men by allowing female staff to have breastfeeding breaks during their working day.
In an attempt to be more family-friendly, the university in Sha Tin has set aside special rooms with wash basins and plugs for breast pumps, and is allowing lactating mothers two 30-minute breaks a day.
However, one user of the CUHK Secrets Facebook page says the policy unfairly favours women.
“Do you think this is fair? Men and women get the same salary and women get to work one hour less,” the user said, according to the SCMP. “Why does no-one ever stand up to overturn such a system that is unjust to men?”
The complaint received plenty of complaints itself, however, with one mother challenging, “Try exchanging your place with me … You get pregnant, you deliver the baby and you do the breastfeeding instead.”
Maybe in return she could try peeing standing up and getting paid more to do exactly the same job?
According to a study by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, 86 percent of new mothers in Hong Kong now breastfeed their babies. However, many do not continue the practice long after delivery due to a lack of support in workplaces.
Photo: UNICEF
