Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives [Paperback]

Katherine A. Dettwyler (Editor), Patricia Stuart-Macadam (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0202011925 | ISBN-13: 978-0202011929 | Publication Date: December 31, 1995

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

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 Best Sellers Rank: #497,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 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 review is from: Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives (Paperback)

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. :-)

24 of 24 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)   

This review is from: Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives (Paperback)

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.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my life!!, January 29, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives (Paperback)

This book has changed my life! There is so much evidence and sound facts about why it is so important for a child to be breastfed until the age of 2.5- 7 years of age that a person would have to be deaf, dumb & blind to at last not consider it. It is because of this book, that I am going to continue to exclusively pump for my son until the age of 5 (he never latched). I would highly recommend this book for any breastfeeding mother that is considering whether or not she should continue to breastfed beyond the age of 12 months. Read this book. It will change your life. When I read it, not only did I see how humans create their own destruction, I saw the face of God.