Neutralizing the Maternal Breast

Accounts of Public Breastfeeding by African American Mothers

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2347652
AutoresNicole Owens (University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA), K Carter (0000-0002-8509-854X, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA, autor correspondente), Shannon K Carter, Chelsea J Nordham (University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA), Chelsea Nordham (University of Central Florida), Jason A Ford (0000-0003-0070-5062, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA)
Ano2018
Volume39
Fascículo2
Páginas430-450
Data de publicação2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Family Issues (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0192-513X • E-ISSN: 1552-5481
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0192513x16650229
OpenAlexW2355486686
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas54

U.S. mothers receive messages that they should breastfeed their babies, yet there is little cultural support for public breastfeeding and evidence of heightened opposition in African American communities. We use a social constructionist perspective to analyze 22 African American mothers' breastfeeding in public narratives. Findings show that participants use varying definitions of 'public' in relation to breastfeeding that are based on geographic spaces and social relationships. Participants identify breastfeeding in public as problematic based on their interpretations of others' reactions, and discuss covering as an important component of breastfeeding in public. We conclude that the breastfeeding cover operates as a 'cloak of neutralization' by creating a symbolically 'private' space in a discursively constructed 'public' one. Although the cover eliminates potential breast exposure, it announces a woman's use of the maternal breast-which Young identifies as challenging patriarchal claims to women's bodies-thereby failing to fully neutralize the situation

Breast feeding · Breastfeeding · Developmental psychology · Narrative · Sociology · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Welfare and Adoption · Children's Rights and Participation · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Pediatrics