Moral Constructions of Motherhood in Breastfeeding Discourse

Wall, Glenda

doi:10.1177/089124301015004006

Cited by 218 publications

(197 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The analysis was then extended by the first author to include all 22 women, revising themes and adding new themes where appropriate, and this was then audited by the other three authors. Although data saturation appeared close to achievement before the final handful of participants' accounts were analysed, these accounts were still examined closely for possible novel material because of the tendency for normalising discourses in relation to breastfeeding (Wall, 2001), which can obscure and marginalise less common experiences. As Parker (2005) has argued, it was important not to close off useful theoretical vantage points prematurely.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As Hannah said in her second interview: 'You sort of feel more, if people are sitting here watching me struggling, are they thinking that I'm failing him?' That women might feel a sense of shame in front of others for struggling to breastfeed has been suggested by feminist theorists who have noted the way in which ideologies of 'good mothering' can position women who struggle to breastfeed as unnatural or deficient as women (Taylor & Wallace, 2012;Wall, 2001). A few of the women outlined a more Goffmanesque understanding of the importance of a credible and confident performance of breastfeeding in order to assert the acceptability of breastfeeding in public spaces:…”

Section: Observing the Etiquette Of Breastfeedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

Leeming

Williamson

Lyttle

et al. 2013

Psychology & Health

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Many women report difficulties with breastfeeding and do not maintain the practice for as long as intended. Although psychologists and other researchers have explored some of the difficulties they experience, fuller exploration of the relational contexts in which breastfeeding takes place is warranted to enable more in-depth analysis of the challenges these pose for breastfeeding women. The present paper is based on qualitative data collected from 22 first-time breastfeeding mothers through two phases of interviews and audio-diaries which explored how the participants experienced their relationships with significant others and the wider social context of breastfeeding in the first five weeks postpartum. Using a thematic analysis informed by symbolic interactionism, we develop the overarching theme of 'Practising socially sensitive lactation' which captures how participants felt the need to manage tensions between breastfeeding and their perceptions of the needs, expectations and comfort of others. We argue that breastfeeding remains a problematic social act, despite its agreed importance for child health. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of our sample and analytic approach, we suggest ways in which perinatal and public health interventions can take more effective account of the social challenges of breastfeeding in order to facilitate the health and psychological well-being of mothers and their infants.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Observing the Etiquette Of Breastfeedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

Leeming

Williamson

Lyttle

et al. 2013

Psychology & Health

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“…Recent research has shown that, for many women, breast-feeding is seen as a similarly integral component of 'good mothering' (Stearns 1999, Schmied et al 2001, Wall 2001. Murphy (1999Murphy ( , 2000 observes that, in neoliberal societies, the 'good mother' is one who maximises physical & psychological outcomes for her child, regardless of personal cost.…”

Section: Information-seeking Breast-feeding and Good Motheringmentioning

confidence: 99%

The seeking of baby-feeding information by Canadian women pregnant with twins

McKenzie

2006

Midwifery

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Objective: to analyse baby-feeding information needs and seeking described by Canadian women pregnant with twins.Design, setting, and participants: in-depth semi-structured interviews with 19 pregnant women were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts provided the data for discourse analysis of the use of two interpretative repertoires.Measurements and findings: the first interpretative repertoire represented caring for twins as fundamentally distinct from caring for singly-born children and therefore emphasised the commonality of mothers of twins regardless of their background or situation. The second highlighted the uniqueness and individuality of each person. These repertoires intersect with discourses of baby-feeding and good mothering, resulting in a complex discursive interplay of similarity and difference, commonality and individuality, information seeking, baby-feeding and good mothering. Participants used the two interpretative repertoires to a) frame information needs; b) construct complex accounts of the biomedical, experiential, and personalised authority of information sources, c) describe the helpfulness of information sources independent of their authority; and d) describe the barriers encountered in the finding appropriate sources of babyfeeding information antenatally.Implications: understanding and respecting the discursive constructions of pregnancy and mothering can help practitioners understand the complex discursive interplay underlying participants' baby-feeding decisions and may facilitate more sensitive support for women's individual needs and understandings.

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“…These include an association between breastfeeding and representations of 'good' mothering (Carter, 1995;Marshall, et al, 2007;Shaw, 2004) as well as the notion that breastfeeding is essential for 'bonding' to take place between a mother and baby (Schmied & Lupton, 2001;Wall, 2001). Related to these constructions is a moral dichotomy between breast milk which is represented as 'good' and formula milk represented as 'bad' (Bartlett, 2003;2005;Murphy, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A discourse of breastfeeding as a natural process which requires little support is also juxtaposed with a medical discourse which implies the necessity of close 'expert' supervision (Blum, 1993;Carter, 1995;Wall, 2001). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expressing yourself: A feminist analysis of talk around expressing breast milk

Johnson

Williamson

Lyttle

et al. 2009

Social Science & Medicine

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Recent feminist analyses, particularly from those working within a poststructuralist framework, have highlighted a number of historically located and contradictory socio-cultural constructions and practices which women are faced with when negotiating infant feeding, especially breastfeeding, within contemporary western contexts. However, there has been little explicit analysis of the practice of expressing breast milk. The aim of this article is to explore the embodied practice of expressing breast milk. This is done by analysing, from a feminist poststructuralist perspective, discourse surrounding expressing breast milk in sixteen first time mothers' accounts of early infant feeding. Participants were recruited from a hospital in the South Midlands of England. The data are drawn from the first phase of a larger longitudinal study, during which mothers kept an audio diary about their breastfeeding experiences for seven days following discharge from hospital, and then took part in a follow-up interview. Key themes identified are expressing breast milk as (i) a way of managing pain whilst still feeding breast milk; (ii) a solution to the inefficiencies of the maternal body; (iii) enhancing or disrupting the 'bonding process'; (iv) a way of managing feeding in public; and (v) a way to negotiate some independence and manage the demands of breastfeeding. Links between these and broader historical and socio-cultural constructions and practices are discussed. This analysis expands current feminist theorising around how women actively create the 'good maternal 2 body'. As constructed by the participants, expressing breast milk appears to be largely a way of aligning subjectivity with cultural ideologies of motherhood.Moreover, breastfeeding discourses and practices available to mothers are not limitless and processes of power restrict the possibilities for women in relation to infant feeding.

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Moral Constructions of Motherhood in Breastfeeding Discourse

Cited by 218 publications

References 18 publications

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

The seeking of baby-feeding information by Canadian women pregnant with twins

Expressing yourself: A feminist analysis of talk around expressing breast milk

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