Abstract
Women in Catalonia are increasingly breastfeeding their children for longer periods of time. However, past a certain point this practice, said to be beneficial for both mother and baby, is seen as anomalous. Especially after the child’s first birthday, many women who continue to breastfeed are subject to criticism on three grounds: it leads to mother child dependency, it spoils the child, and the act itself is obscene. An analysis of these criticisms and their emic justifications invites us to reflect on the uses of corporality in childrearing, the construction of personhood, and Western taboos
concerning bodies and bodily fluids.
concerning bodies and bodily fluids.
Translated title of the contribution | “Are you still breastfeeding?” Western taboos about the uses of corporeality in childraising |
---|---|
Original language | Catalan |
Pages (from-to) | 114-127 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Quaderns-e |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 15 Sept 2013 |