Anti-Breastfeeding Book

isabchi · Dec 4, 2010

I'm speechless<img alt="banghead.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/banghead.gif" style="width:25px;height:20px;">
 
<a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/pageview/say-its-not-so-breast-may-not-be-best/27893" target="_blank">http://chronicle.com/blogs/pageview/say-its-not-so-breast-may-not-be-best/27893</a>

sosurreal09 · Dec 4, 2010

oh yeah thats what the world needs...

kythe · Dec 4, 2010

I'm not really worried about it. This woman has a degree in gender studies, no science background. She alone will not take on the major medical organizations of the world regarding their stance on breastfeeding. She will tell a certain group of people what they want to hear, but I don't see her being influencial on society in general. She's no different than anyone else who writes a self-help book or publishes their personal ideologies.

kittywitty · Dec 4, 2010

What trash. And the comments are worse calling anyone who is pro-breastfeeding Nazis.

sosurreal09 · Dec 5, 2010

true, its just something else formula feeding parents can shove in our face as "information" i have had several FF moms i know tell me my BM is no better and yada yada yada. its all garbage.

RoseDuperre · Dec 5, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by kythe <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16092666"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I'm not really worried about it. This woman has a degree in gender studies, no science background. She alone will not take on the major medical organizations of the world regarding their stance on breastfeeding. She will tell a certain group of people what they want to hear, but I don't see her being influencial on society in general. She's no different than anyone else who writes a self-help book or publishes their personal ideologies.
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You don't think it's going to be a media (breast)feeding FRENZY when it actually hits the shelves?? OMG, the number of news sources that are going to be aaaaaallll over this . . . Mark my words. I think it'll make Rosin's article look like a tiny blip on the radar. Yes, everyone relevant will rise to the occasion and refute the BS, but it's going to be a huge mess for a while.

Hannah32 · Dec 6, 2010

Well, I think the thing about "total motherhood" is a somewhat legitimate critique on a feminist level. And I say that as someone who breast feeds. I'd actually like to read it. Don't see the need to react defensively.

bayosgirl87 · Dec 6, 2010

Typical "new generation" feminists despising everything that womanhood has represented for thousands of years.
 
I don't have the time/patience to dissect everything wrong about that article, but suffice it to say that I hope women will be intelligent enough to see through the bull.

kythe · Dec 6, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by RoseDuperre <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16095168"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by kythe <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16092666"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I'm not really worried about it. This woman has a degree in gender studies, no science background. She alone will not take on the major medical organizations of the world regarding their stance on breastfeeding. She will tell a certain group of people what they want to hear, but I don't see her being influencial on society in general. She's no different than anyone else who writes a self-help book or publishes their personal ideologies.
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You don't think it's going to be a media (breast)feeding FRENZY when it actually hits the shelves?? OMG, the number of news sources that are going to be aaaaaallll over this . . . Mark my words. I think it'll make Rosin's article look like a tiny blip on the radar. Yes, everyone relevant will rise to the occasion and refute the BS, but it's going to be a huge mess for a while.


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Back in the 90's, there was a similar book published called, "Bottlefeeding Without Guilt". It was full of inaccuracies and going against real information from medical organizations, but it hit the spot with formula feeders who feel guilty. The author had bad experience with breastfeeding advocates and a good bit of the book is very critical of breastfeeding mothers rather than truly offering facts about formula and support for those who cannot breastfeed. 
 
I don't think this book was ever a bestseller, but sometimes I think it got more attention than it deserved because of breastfeeders. For instance, I would never have heard of it if it weren't for breastfeeding advocates on the internet who talked about it. Also, there would be no market at all for a book like this if people felt comfortable about their choices and did not feel guilty about how they feed their baby.

violet_ · Dec 6, 2010

Sounds like a tenure book to me. Often, academics will write a book in order to get tenure (note she is an assistant professor, so it is time for her to do this), and to ensure it is talked about and gets them some press, they will make it intentionally provocative. So, here she attacks a sacred cow (no pun intended!) to guarantee some coverage, whether her argument holds or not. She'll throw in some interesting analysis about "Total Motherhood" and try to make the case about health benefits of breastmilk being unproven, and people will talk.

mamajake · Dec 9, 2010

Wolf has tenure, I am sure. She has been writing this, um, stuff for quite a while. Hanna Rosin is a Joan Wolf wannabe.
 
This book is preaching to it own choir. My vote is we don't bite. It is meant to stir up "Mommy wars." Let's not perform for them.

EviesMom · Dec 10, 2010

I've never understood Rosin or this woman or any of those like her. If you don't wanna breastfeed, lady, then don't. It's no skin off my nose. I don't breastfeed because I'm "afraid my mommy circle will disown me if I don't." And that appears to be Rosin et al.s big rationale for why anyone would breastfeed. Sounds to me like the lady needs some real friends. I breastfeed because it's the right thing for me to do. Right for me, right for my kids, right for my family. Not right for her, why on earth would anyone at all care other than her, her kids, and her family? Why would the media care?

GoBecGo · Dec 10, 2010

Sounds dreadful. Yet another woman purporting to be feminist and yet openly stripping power from women. I won't be reading it.

mamajake · Dec 10, 2010

@Eviesmom, it is a really perverse version of lunch room kids yelling "fight! fight!" Or mud wrestling but much more sad. For Rosin, I think it was her 15 minutes of fame. Controversy brings hits to the website.

Bottom line, it is about making money and if women suffer as a result, so be it.

Blueone · Jan 29, 2011

I actually scanned the book at a store and found it wasn't really against breastfeeding (I am pro breastfeeding by the way). It was just simply discussing the history of the pressure to breastfeed and the anxiety it can create for those who choose or simply can't breastfeed. 
 
I personally was unable to due complicated health issues. I tried, but it truly did not work out for me. It created a lot of anxiety for me and I felt the pressure to try harder followed by guilt. It didn't help that others would say Formla Feeding moms were lazy, ignorant, didn't try hard enough, or simply didn't love my child enough, followed by how bad the child will turn out in the end. As such, I think the book is actually helpful to some. It ends saying she isn't against breastfeeding, just that others shouldn't condem those who choose to or really truly can't breastfeed. Mainly it's just discussing our current culture. 
 
Of course, some of it is a bit biased. All parenting/self help type books can be biased. Over all though, the book was pretty accurate in some areas.

Can Dance · Feb 5, 2011

I actually posted about her years ago here:
<a href="http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/735480/a-link-to-a-paper-questioning-bfing">http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/735480/a-link-to-a-paper-questioning-bfing</a>
 
there is a further breakdown of her assertions in that thread

KateDavies45 · May 5, 2011

This is absolutely disgusting.... I personally advocate breastfeeding to natural duration, however I try to do so in a way that's not quite so "foaming-at-the-mouth" militant as some, and after I mention that breastfeeding is what nature designed as baby food I don't insist that EVERYONE I meet HAS to exclusively breastfeed until their kid is 5 1/2 years. If you make an informed decision - note I said "informed" - to use formula, then hey that's your business. But to actually advocate against breastfeeding seem pretty horrific to me. How many young, brand new - read vulnerable - moms will see this book on the shelves and question whether they really are making a good choice when they want to breastfeed. After all, if there are supposed "experts" who advocate against it, maybe it's not that important after all.

philomom · May 5, 2011

What a crock! I hope no one actually believes this junk.

sosurreal09 · May 5, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Blueone <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16222556"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I actually scanned the book at a store and found it wasn't really against breastfeeding (I am pro breastfeeding by the way). It was just simply discussing the history of the pressure to breastfeed and the anxiety it can create for those who choose or simply can't breastfeed. 
 
I personally was unable to due complicated health issues. I tried, but it truly did not work out for me. It created a lot of anxiety for me and I felt the pressure to try harder followed by guilt. It didn't help that others would say Formla Feeding moms were lazy, ignorant, didn't try hard enough, or simply didn't love my child enough, followed by how bad the child will turn out in the end. As such, I think the book is actually helpful to some. It ends saying she isn't against breastfeeding, just that others shouldn't condem those who choose to or really truly can't breastfeed. Mainly it's just discussing our current culture. 
 
Of course, some of it is a bit biased. All parenting/self help type books can be biased. Over all though, the book was pretty accurate in some areas.
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I get what you are saying but like 90% of Americans formula feed so I am pretty sure that is accepted norm. I am nursing a 19 m/o and everyone thinks I am a freak.

~pi · May 6, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by violet_ <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16096129"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> Sounds like a tenure book to me. Often, academics will write a book in order to get tenure (note she is an assistant professor, so it is time for her to do this), and to ensure it is talked about and gets them some press, they will make it intentionally provocative. So, here she attacks a sacred cow (no pun intended!) to guarantee some coverage, whether her argument holds or not. She'll throw in some interesting analysis about "Total Motherhood" and try to make the case about health benefits of breastmilk being unproven, and people will talk. 
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 <img alt="yeahthat.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/yeahthat.gif">
 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by mamajake <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283469/anti-breastfeeding-book#post_16105867"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> Wolf has tenure, I am sure. She has been writing this, um, stuff for quite a while.
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 Not long enough to get tenure. She's still an asst. prof. If she were tenured, she would be assoc. prof. Looks like she's bounced around a couple of universities in asst. prof. positions. She's coming up to 6 years at Texas A&M, which is tenure time, usually.

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