Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives (Paperback)

~ Katherine Dettwyler (Editor), Patricia Stuart-Macadam (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is well organized and the writing is clear, engaging, and thought-provoking." -- Journal of Human Lactation

Product Description

Breastfeeding is a biocultural phenomenon: not only is it a biological process, but it is also a culturally determined behavior. As such, it has important implications for understanding the past, present, and future condition of our species. In general, scholars have emphasized either the biological or the cultural aspects of breastfeeding, but not both. As biological anthropologists the editors of this volume feel that an evolutionary approach combining both aspects is essential. One of the goals of their book is to incorporate data from diverse fields to present a more holistic view of breastfeeding, through the inclusion of research from a number of different disciplines, including biological and social/cultural anthropology, nutrition, and medicine. The resulting book, presenting the complexity of the issues surrounding very basic decisions about infant nutrition, will fill a void in the existing literature on breastfeeding.

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Aldine Transaction (December 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0202011925
• ISBN-13: 978-0202011929
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #417,375 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can really sink your teeth into this!, December 30, 1999

By	Catherine Hallberg "(Kate)" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This isn't for the average "consumer" of breastfeeding and parenting books- it won't give much practical advice. What it does is provide accurate, researched based information on what is currently known as "attachment parenting". I was led to "ap" by an endocrinology professor, ten years before I had children, and I learned from her that parenting can be interesting and fulfilling. I learned that there are parenting instincts- holding a baby, sleeping with the baby, not letting the baby cry... the various authors in this book reinforce that. I came away from these writings with a sense that mothering is important and has been throughout history, and that *children* are important. Sometimes I feel that gets lost in parenting books, especially the "mainstream" of Dobson, What to Expect, Ezzo... Dettwyler, et. al. show us that our children deserve better than that.

I might even study anthropology someday. :-)

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biocultural BFing issues, important info on this subject, October 17, 2001

By	Tammy L. Schilling "tammyl84" (MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Breastfeeding: BioCultural Perspectives is a wonderful in depth look at the biological and cultural issues surrounding breastfeeding. It contains a close look at the biological history of breastfeeding, explaining how it is thought that breastfeeding has evolved to protect infants and children, why it is important to breastfeed, and how women in the distant past breastfed (or not) and the implications this may have held for their offspring.

The book goes on to examine information about current breastfeeding practices in various parts of the world and the effect these practices seem to have had on their populations. Included are all of the cultural issues which serve to support or sever the breastfeeding relationship. Further, the book covers issues of: weaning (what is biologically and culturally normal
and why they are so different), breast as a sexual object, demand feeding vs. scheduled feeding, co-sleeping and SIDS, fertility issues affected by breastfeeding, and breast cancer and reproductive biology.

This book is a must read for those interested in more than just mechanical information about breastfeeding. It is also recommended reading for any attatchement style parent who is interested in a more biocultural view of why AP works.

This book is not light reading, but is certainly accessible to anyone truly interested.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid evidence for an ages-old concept, October 18, 2005

By	Jess "Joy" (NH) - See all my reviews

One of the most interesting books I read on the topic of breastfeeding was Kathy Dettwyler's Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Besides being incredibly well-researched and thorough, it also presented an amazingly logical (yet somehow overlooked) idea: breastfeeding as an evolutionary adaptation. Breastfeeding benefits the survival of the baby and the human species - not only because of its nutritional benefits, but because it keeps mother and child close during a time of vulnerability. It also fosters the mother's ability to cue in on her child's needs and respond to them quickly and efficiently-one might say, instinctually. The modern concept of "attachment parenting" is really a very ancient, practical, and life-sustaining practice. Dettwyler's book presents solid scientific evidence from studies in biology, anthropology, and sociology that reinforces this ages-old concept.