Overview

Current public health promotion of breastfeeding relies heavily on health messaging and individual behavior change. Women are told that “breast is best” but too little serious attention is given to addressing the many social, economic, and political factors that combine to limit women’s real choice to breastfeed beyond a few days or weeks. The result: women’s, infants’, and public health interests are undermined.  Beyond Health, Beyond Choice examines how feminist perspectives can inform public health support for breastfeeding. Written by authors from diverse disciplines, perspectives, and countries, this collection of essays is arranged thematically and considers breastfeeding in relation to public health and health care; work and family; embodiment (specifically breastfeeding in public); economic and ethnic factors; guilt; violence; and commercialization. By examining women’s experiences and bringing feminist insights to bear on a public issue, the editors attempt to reframe the discussion to better inform public health approaches and political action. Doing so can help us recognize the value of breastfeeding for the public’s health and the important productive and reproductive contributions women make to the world.

Full Product Details

9780813553030

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Masterful selection of clearly written pieces help to guide readers through an engaging and informative collection. Fascinating for researchers and practitioners examining issues of gender equality, choice, and public health, it is also educational for those seeking to learn more about the social, economic, and political aspects of this controversial topic."" * World Medical and Health Policy * ""This well-written and accessible book is free of jargon, and covers a sweeping variety of topics. The case studies are interesting and often moving; this book is a desperately needed and important step toward reconciling feminist views on breastfeeding."" -- Professor Karen Kedrowski * coauthor of Breastfeeding Rights in the United States * ""Beyond Health, Beyond Choice is a collection of 23 well-written and thoughtprovoking articles exploring a wide range of mother-related topics including race, class and culture, medicalization of breastfeeding support, marketing milk, guilt, media, and sexuality."" * International Lactation Consultant Association * ""Recommended. All levels of students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners."" * Choice * ""Masterful selection of clearly written pieces help to guide readers through an engaging and informative collection. Fascinating for researchers and practitioners examining issues of gender equality, choice, and public health, it is also educational for those seeking to learn more about the social, economic, and political aspects of this controversial topic."" * World Medical and Health Policy * ""This well-written and accessible book is free of jargon, and covers a sweeping variety of topics. The case studies are interesting and often moving; this book is a desperately needed and important step toward reconciling feminist views on breastfeeding."" -- Professor Karen Kedrowski * coauthor of Breastfeeding Rights in the United States * ""Beyond Health, Beyond Choice is a collection of 23 well-written and thoughtprovoking articles exploring a wide range of mother-related topics including race, class and culture, medicalization of breastfeeding support, marketing milk, guilt, media, and sexuality."" * International Lactation Consultant Association * ""Recommended. All levels of students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners."" * Choice *

This well-written and accessible book is free of jargon, and covers a sweeping variety of topics. The case studies are interesting and often moving; this book is a desperately needed and important step toward reconciling feminist views on breastfeeding. --Professor Karen Kedrowski Coauthor of Breastfeeding Rights in the United States (09/27/2011)

This well-written and accessible book is free of jargon, and covers a sweeping variety of topics. The case studies are interesting and often moving; this book is a desperately needed and important step toward reconciling feminist views on breastfeeding. --Professor Karen Kedrowski coauthor of Breastfeeding Rights in the United States (09/27/2011)

Author Information

PAIGE HALL SMITH is Associate Professor of Public Health Education and Director of the Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  BERNICE L. HAUSMAN is Professor of English at Virginia Tech and the author of Mother’s Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture and Viral Mothers: Breastfeeding in the Age of HIV/AIDS. MIRIAM LABBOK is Professor and Director of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute in the Department of Maternal and Child Health in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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