Thursday, April 22, 2010

Message to Pregnant Women and Mothers

The bathroom in Chipotle has a sign on the door telling pregnant women not to drink alcohol (it's perfectly fine for all non-pregnant people to drink as much as they want, though -- warning is just for preggos).

Why this sign is in the bathroom, I have no clue. I'm not a drinker, but I think that if I were, I wouldn't go to the bathroom to think about whether or not I wanted to order a drink...

(Does Chipotle even sell alcohol? I forgot to check before I left... How many fast food places have liquor licenses??)

You know what else I noticed in the bathroom?

NO CHANGING TABLE.

Yet again, one more subtle example of how society sees women, specifically pregnant women and mothers: Preggos, let us tell you what you can and can't do with your bodies. Mothers, take those annoying kids of yours somewhere else, we don't want 'em here.

14 comments:

  1. I noticed signs like this in several bars in Boston when I was there in March. Left me scratching my head.

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  2. Anonymous5:14 PM

    The MENS bathroom at Mi Cocina has the same sign. But I doubt its some sort of subtle mysogyny.
    And pregnant women should not be frequenting the mens room and drinking. Of course that might be how they got pregnant in the first place.

    Did you steal Jessica's earring?

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  3. Chipotle does sell beer and margaritas. The no changing table is telling. I get irked even when I don't see any tampon machines.

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  4. Anonymous7:40 PM

    When women abort their own offspring in this country how the heck do you expect to earn any respect for motherhood? Respect needs to be earned and pro-aborts cause the disrespect for all mothers! Criss please wake up so you can be a true advocate for moms.

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  5. I am amazed at how many restaurants, and kid-friendly or even kid-centric ones, don't have changing tables. It's absurd. I was so blown away by this one place we went to in San Francisco recently, b/c it not only had a changing table in the bathroom, but they had also sacrificed the space of 2-3 tables to put a kid's play area, with toys and a small table for them to play on. Wish that was more common...

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  6. WATCH OUT! Alcohol affects fetuses! But, you know, it doesn't affect non-pregnant women. Nope. They're just immune to alcohol and it's dangers!

    There are certain people who should tell you that alcohol is dangerous in pregnancy. My doctor, my mother, my significant other. But not a fast food restaurant.

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  7. Criss and Christian Prochoicer, you both have a chip on your shoulder. It baffles me why you would find a sign like this offensive. Do you not know that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the leading causes of mental retardation in the United States? It's a serious problem. I'm from Canada and the statistics are horrifying: 60% (more than half!) of all our foster children have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

    Drinking during pregnancy should be illegal. It's child abuse!

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  8. Anonymous5:19 PM

    Believe it or not, some pregnant women don't have a mother, doctor or significant other. It is a fact not all pregnant women are as privledged as others.

    Why the hell would educating people about health risks offend anyone?

    It's more like the block, not the chip.

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  9. Anonymous6:59 PM

    Are you such a self-centered narcisist that your overreaction and crocodile tear faux offense gives you the right to dictate how important medical information is disseminated? Your fetus would be ashamed!

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  10. "And the award for TOTALLY MISSING THE POINT goes to..."

    Read the post. Read the comments (from the people with names).

    The issue is not what's there. The issue is what is NOT there.

    Yes, FAS is a problem. So are alcoholism, underage drinking, and drunk driving. Why single out pregnant women, when ALL people need to be warned of the evils of alcohol?

    It is much more harmful for an alcoholic to have a beer than for a pregnant woman in her second or third trimester to have that same beer. (And I can guarantee you the percentage of pregnant women who know they are pregnant and are taking proper care of themselves is much higher than the percentage of alcoholics who know they are alcoholics and are taking proper care of themselves.)

    The other huge issue, in case you missed it, it being in ALL CAPS IN THE POST AND ALL, is the total lack of changing tables in the bathroom.

    Again, so much concern for fetuses... but "post-born" children? SCREW THEM.

    Well, the mother should have planned better, and waited until the kid had already pooped for the day before taking him out in public.

    Anyone know what Chipotle's policy is on breastfeeding in their restaurants?

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  11. Anonymous10:46 PM

    What's the next size up from the Block?

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  12. Criss, I agree about the change tables in the bathroom. Any public restaurant/place that allows children (I mean, obviously night clubs are out), should without question have change tables in the bathroom. I'm totally with you on that! :)

    I'm not familiar with Chipotle - is it a family friendly restaurant or is it a bar? Cuz pregnant women go to clubs all the times but they wouldn't bring a baby to one.

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  13. Bekah,
    Chipotle is a fast-food restaurant. They're likle Subway, but with Tex-Mex food (you go down the line and tell them what you want on your burrito/taco/taco salad/bean bowl). You pick up your order at the register and serve yourself your soda from the free-refill fountain.

    They don't have a play area, like McDonald's, Burger King, or Chik-fil-A, but they have a Kid's Menu.

    They sell beer and margaritas, but they also sell milk (plain and chocolate), and Juicy Juice juiceboxes (apple).

    This is definitely a place where children are welcome and expected to be. A changing table would be nice.

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  14. It still angers me the places that don't have changing tables. I actually got into it once with a lady at a clothing store because their bathrooms were without changing tables. She wouldn't let me in the dressing rooms to change him.

    As for the breastfeeding, I think it's more of the state laws because I know in Florida the laws say anywhere a mother and her child are allowed to be is where she is allowed to nurse. Whether or not nipple is showing.

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