This Monday morning I want to talk about something complicated but really interesting.
I was recently reading an article on breastfeeding and feminism called "Is Breastfeeding Fair?" by Dr. Deborah McCarter-Spaulding, IBCLC.
The article outlines "the feminist problem of breastfeeding." What's that, you ask? McCarter-Spaulding provides a summary:
"The problem arises because breastfeeding is sex-specific, and therefore challenges the feminist principle of gender-neutral childrearing. It is an even more difficult problem than pregnancy because whereas pregnancy is necessary for childbearing, many do not consider breastfeeding to be critical to an infant's survival, at least in industrialized countries."
So, to summarize, feminist theory views social expectation and roles as potentially oppressive to women. Pregnancy is a part of parenting that obviously cannot be shared, but some argue that breastfeeding doesn't fall in the same category. Some feminists (see below) view infant feeding as an activity that can and should be shared equally. You can only get to this point of view, it seems to me, if you think that breastfeeding is not a biological imperative. And that is the argument that some feminists (not all, see below) make, questioning whether there truly are health benefits to breastfeeding.
There are, however, several different feminist views on breastfeeding. I'll summarize them here:
Liberal feminism: In this view, breastfeeding is a social arrangement. Lactation - making milk - is a distinctly female biological function which only women can perform, but feeding the baby is a form of social labor which can be negotiated. Proponents of this view question claims of superiority of breastmilk over formula. McCarter -Spaulding says that in this view, "Breastfeeding is seen as a gender difference that stands in the way of liberating women. Bottle-feeding in this perspective would be seen as liberating."
Cultural feminism: In this view, breastfeeding is seen as a special female role which should be protected. In this view, complete gender equality may threaten those things that are uniquely female and male. McCarter-Spaulding states, "Cultural feminism strives to reconfigure social and economic structures to accommodate this gender difference without resorting to biological determinism."
Feminist health activism: In this view, breastfeeding is part of a political agenda which is aimed at helping women take control back over their bodies with information and support (think Our Bodies, Ourselves, but also La Leche League). Viewed as a unifying perspective, this approach focuses on removing barriers which constrain women's choices, such as lack of paid maternity leave, the absence of break time or facilities to pump at work, and the particular challenges faced by disadvantaged women.
I'd love to hear your perspective. Do you consider yourself a feminist and also a breastfeeding advocate? Do you think that it's possible to come up with an arrangement which allows for equal division of responsibility while allowing a mother to breastfeed? Which of the perspectives above, if any, appeals to you?
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