At the Breast: Ideologies of Breastfeeding and Motherhood in the Contemporary United States

Nature and gender dynamics are often at cross-purposes, and it seems to be the fate of feminists in the last years of the 20th century to find themselves forever hostage in the uneasy negotiations between the two. University of New Hampshire sociologist Linda Blum's highly informative study of the cultural complexities behind the simple act of breast-feeding is yet another example of the many ways in which a contemporary woman's right to choose often finds itself in conflict with physiology's dictates.

In her previous book, Between Feminism and Labor, Blum explored the intersection between the feminist movement and the rise of unions through a series of case studies. She uses that technique to good effect here as well, interviewing white, middle-class La Leche League enthusiasts; blue-collar white women; and black, working-class mothers about their attitudes towards breast-feeding. The health benefits of breast milk for infants are almost universally acknowledged--but how realistic is it for all working women to nurse? What about those mothers who have a hard time making the transition between viewing their breasts as erogenous zones and seeing them as baby's buffet? There is even controversy about what exactly constitutes breast-feeding: are sucklings weaned at six weeks or infants fed breast-pumped milk through a bottle truly "breast" babies? Blum's analysis of such issues is respectful of the social and psychological imperatives that inform a woman's decision on whether or not to breast-feed. --Patrizia DiLucchio