Comments on: Breastfeeding in America

By: mediamum

mediamum — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:23:47 +0000

Thanks for your comments Sarah. Yes, I think you’re right and that the rates are better in Australia, but only slightly unfortunately. Your interest and passion for the subject would be a great help for some of the organisations who are lobbying and supporting breastfeeding. If you’re not already involved, I know that the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and the Maternity Coalition would love to have your involvement. It’s rare to hear of someone who is breastfeeding at six months and indicates an intention to continue indefinitely – it’s far more common to hear people say where their limits are. Your comment is like a breath of fresh air.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 09:38:20 +0000

Hi I’m an Australian woman, currently breastfeeding my first child (she’s nearly six months old, but I plan to keep breastfeeding her until she is at least 2 years old, as per WHO guidelines). I don’t know the specific breastfeeding rates of Australian mothers, but I believe, though it is far from 100%, it is better than America’s rate. Since I became pregnant, breastfeeding has been an interest and passion of mine. I have taken note of media representations of breastfeeding. I have noticed that the symbol of the baby bottle prevails, but more and more breastfeeding is being portrayed as ‘normal’ by Australia media. I’m sorry I cannot say the same for the American TV shows and movies I see – often breastfeeding, if portrayed, is a joke. A favourte theme seems to be breastfeeding the older child – one movie made a joke of a mother breastfeeding a 3 year old – now what’s wrong with that? WHO recommends breastfeeding til at least 2years old – that’s only one year more. Funnily enough, the only TV show I’ve seen that presents it as ‘normal’ is the highly un-PC ‘Family Guy’. In two episodes that I can recall it has alluded to or shown the baby breastfeeding, and not made a big deal out of it in either case (althogh it must be said that in one of these episodes the baby was attempting to breastfeed from the father – but I view this scenario as making fun of the father, who was getting rather too in touch with his ‘feminine side’, rather than making fun of breastfeeding itself.)

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:07:40 +0000

I just came across your page here and thought it was great. I am currently back in school and have been writing about breastfeeding all semester. I did a paper on media and breastfeeding, promotional video and have recently started up a group called birth art & beyond. I think what you are doing is great. Could you please email me the paper that you wrote. thanks

By: Harriet McAlonan

Harriet McAlonan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:57:12 +0000

Great article/blog we suffer from the same poor rate of breast feeding and media input here in the UK.

I also feel celebrities could play a vital role in this, they all seem to enjoy showing off their children in OK and Hello, but it would only take a few pictures and comments from them about how they breast feed to get the masses to do it. (Angelina excepted)
Thanks for a great read!

By: mediamum

mediamum — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:01:21 +0000

Hi Eileen! My research has shown your perspective is spot on. And it is interesting to note how media has reflected this change in society’s values in its entertainment and stereotypes. There are a few new books/readings that you might find interesting. These both look at feminism and its relationship to breastfeeding.
First: McCarter-Spaulding, D. (2008). Is Breastfeeding Fair: Tensions in Feminist Perspectives on Breastfeeding and the Family. The Journal of Human Lactation, 24 (2); pp. 206-212.
Second: Kedrowski, K. & Lipscomb, M. (2008) Breastfeeding Rights in the United States. Greenwood Publishing Group.
And a couple more from a decade ago, which sets it all up:
1. Blum, L. (1993) Mothers, babies and breastfeeding in late capitalist America:
the shifting contexts of feminist theory. Feminist Studies. 19 pp. 291-311.
2. Carter, P. (1995). Feminism, Breasts and Breastfeeding. Palgrave Macmillan.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:50:12 +0000

Great post! I absolutely agree that the media plays a strong role. I think lacking maternity leave and expensive healthcare are other reasons too though.

With regards to media, it is interesting to note that our “mainstream” parenting magazine here in Canada (Today’s Parent) would be considered very “crunchy” in comparison with mainstream parenting magazines in the United States. It is completely normal here to see images of women breastfeeding in the media and completely normal to see women breastfeeding anytime, anywhere.

By: Eileen Foster

Eileen Foster — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:03:18 +0000

I happened to stumble upon mothering.com when I was pregnant with my first child, so I actually did adhere to WHO’s recommendation on breastfeeding for both my children.

It was a commitment to be sure. Fortunately, I had flexible work and a super-cool boss.

I’d love to read more about the theme of feminism’ abandonment of “traditional” women’s roles.

My view is that feminism bought into the values of a paternalistic system. Early feminism embraced a new model of womanhood as being a careerist and turned its back on women as the nurturer of children. A money-driven society gives lipservice to honoring the caretaking of children, but we see teachers and childcare givers among the lowest paid.

Women’s advancement does not need to be made at the expense of abandoning women’s values. The future health of the world is literally in our hands.