Breast Is Best: Just Maybe in Private?
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debate & analysis breast is best: just maybe in private? background facilities.7 The list is vast, even discounting uncomfortable. The public perception still Few people today would argue formula the medical reasons and considering the remains that bottle feeding in public is more feeding is superior to breastfeeding, health of mother and baby. acceptable than breastfeeding, despite the with the nutritional, immunological, and By looking at two contrasting cultural known health benefits. emotional benefits of breastfeeding being beliefs, we can see how influential the So why do the public have this view? Why well documented.1 The World Health biocultural perspectives of a community is exposure of the breast, in the context of Organization (WHO) recommends women can be on the decision to breastfeed. breastfeeding, still seen by many as being should breastfeed their infants exclusively In Mali, breasts have retained their inappropriate in a public place? for at least the first 6 months. Yet despite primary biological function and hold no recent efforts to increase maternal sexual connotations or stimulus. The public tHe SexualiSation of breaStS education as to why ‘breast is best’, UK hold strong beliefs that breastfeeding is It has been argued that if you say the word breastfeeding rates still fall short. Within essential to create a bond of kinship, and ‘breast’ to a group of heterosexual men, the UK only 35% of mothers breastfeed render the child biologically related to the they think of sex first, not breastfeeding.6 at 1 week, decreasing to as little as 3% at mother. Needless to say this belief has a How often are breasts portrayed in the 5 months.2 These low rates have called positive effect on the rates of breastfeeding media in a maternal and natural role, rather for a change in our breastfeeding culture. with 98% of mothers breastfeeding their than a sexually provocative role? In a study Incentive schemes that pay mothers babies up to an average age of 22months. 8 looking at traditional and non-traditional to breastfeed are being trialled in South In contrast, within the Mende culture of magazines, 73% of women were portrayed Yorkshire and Derbyshire, in which mothers Sierra Leone, women choose to use tinned in a ‘decorative and alluring way’, 5% in an exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months milk to feed their children based on the employment role, and 10% in family roles.9 receive £200 in high-street vouchers.3 cultural belief that if a woman were to be Visual examples of the sexual objectification However do we need financial incentives to disloyal to her husband, the semen of a man of women are especially prominent in the look after our children? Some would argue other than the child’s father can lead to the world of advertising. However a study has ‘yes’ in accordance with our exceptionally production of ‘bad milk’ causing sickness shown that only 27% of mothers thought it low breastfeeding rates. However others within the child. With disease rates being was appropriate to portray breastfeeding would argue that we need to tackle the high due to malnutrition and poor sanitation, women on television.5 Our cultures seem ‘bigger picture’ and spend this money on childhood illness is common. They therefore to struggle with the transference of ideas improving support, advice, and providing prevent accusations of being unfaithful by from breasts that you dress up to look continuity of care. feeding their children tinned milk.8 attractive, by push-up bras, low-cut tops, The Baby Friendly Initiative was started up Although these may be seen as quite and implants, rather than a maternal by WHO and UNICEF in 1991 to encourage a extreme views, they are strong examples mammalian necessity for feeding our standard best care and practice in hospitals of how external cultural influences affect a young. Our culture is comfortable with and the community.3 It was successful in mothers decision to breastfeed. portraying breasts in a sexual connotation increasing the number of breastfed babies Within more Westernised societies, what without too much thought of indecency, yet at birth by 10% by improving support and are the cultural and social beliefs affecting the portrayal of breasts in one of the most education. However, breastfeeding rates a mother’s decision to breastfeed? It has maternal, and natural of settings, can be still remained low with a large majority of been postulated that as many as 69% of perceived as uncomfortable. mothers resorting to bottle feeding within women worry people would judge them the first few days and weeks after birth. Of for breastfeeding in public, 80% are too following by examPle these mothers 90% reported they would embarrassed to breastfeed in public, and So what can be done to increase the have liked to have continued breastfeeding.4 77% are embarrassed by a friend or family breastfeeding rates in the long term? In the So where is the missing link? To what member breastfeeding in front of them.5 1970s, breastfeeding rates in Scandinavia extent do factors other than education, Despite a social movement where bikinis, were as low as those currently seen in support, medical care and health, such low-cut tops, and skin-revealing attire are Britain. To increase their rates, they adopted as the cultural values and social forces, no longer classed as ‘indecent exposure’, a policy with a number of strategies to shape women’s breastfeeding attitudes and even less exposure, such as a mother increase maternal breastfeeding support. decisions? discreetly breastfeeding in public, can be This included the banning of all advertising perceived as awkward, disrespectful, and of artificial formula milk, a years maternity How culture can influence Practice Breastfeeding is a heavily culturalised behaviour, with rates varying between “Public perception still remains that bottle feeding in countries, societies, and cultures, with a vast array of influencing factors: embarrassment, public is more acceptable than breastfeeding, despite body impact,5 sexuality,6 views of partners the known health benefits.” and family, education, time restraints, inconvenience, and insufficient public 44 British Journal of General Practice, January 2014 addreSS for correSPondence “Maybe it is not solely maternal education that needs rosie Sayers e-mail: [email protected] improving, but the education of a culture.” leave with 80% pay, and on the mother’s Perhaps the root of the problem is how return to work, an hour’s breastfeeding breastfeeding in public is such an unusual break daily. Today 98% of Scandinavian behaviour to see. Only 26% of adolescents women initiate breastfeeding, with 42% at have ever seen a mother breastfeeding, 6 months. These rates are the highest in publicly or privately.12 Maybe it is not solely the world.10 maternal education that needs improving to change the expectation and views on concluSion breastfeeding, but the education of a culture. In conclusion, education programmes on The iconic image of a baby feeding is with a why breast is best have been successful bottle. Maybe if there were more images referenceS in raising awareness on the importance of breastfeeding women in the media, 1. Anatolitou F. Human milk benefits and of breastfeeding. However, despite the and increased openness and support for breastfeeding. JPNIM 2012; 1(1): 11–18. encouragement by the medical community, breastfeeding mothers in public places, 2. The Baby Friendly Initiative. UK breast many women do not breastfeed because mothers may be able to break the taboo by feeding rates. London: UNICEF UK Baby 11 Friendly Initiative. http://www.unicef.org. of perceived social sanctions and factors doing the taboo thing, and seeing a woman uk/BabyFriendly/About-Baby-Friendly/ beyond a simple lack of awareness. Cultural breastfeed in public would elicit a more Breastfeeding-in-the-UK/UK-Breastfeeding- and social ideals have a vast and deep positive response, or even no response rates/ (accessed 25 Jul 2013). underlying effect on a mothers’ decision at all? Not having been a mother myself, 3. Triggle N. Breastfeeding mothers offered to breastfeed, to include social perception, I would like to breastfeed my children in £200 in shop vouchers. BBC News Health embarrassment, the sexualisation of the future. However this desire is mainly 2013; 12 nov: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ health-24900650 (accessed 19 Nov 2013). breasts, views of partners, and public influenced by the fact that I understand 4. Boseley S. Breastfeeding by UK mothers facilities. the benefits and believe I would have the rises from 76% to 81%. Guardian, June 2011: But why is this important? We know support from my family, not because it is http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/ that breastfeeding decreases incidences culturally expected to do so. jun/21/breastfeeding-rate-rise-uk-mothers of childhood disease and illness. In the (accessed 25 Jul 2013). UK, raising breastfeeding rates has been rosie Sayers, 5. Johnston-Robledo I, Wares S, Fricker identified as a key step in reducing health Medical Student, University of Bristol, Bristol. J, Parek L. Indecent exposure: self- objectification and young women’s attitudes inequalities with a 10% rate increase toward breastfeeding. Sex Roles 2007; 56: translating into an estimated cost saving of Provenance 429–437. £5.6 million annually in money now spent Freely submitted; not externally peer reviewed. 6. Ward L, Merriwether A, Caruthers A. Breasts on the treatment of ear infections, asthma, are for men: media, masculinity ideologies and other maladies.11 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp14X676573 and men’s beliefs about women’s bodies. Sex Roles 2006; 55: 703–714. 7. McIntyre E, Turnbull D, Hiller JE. Breastfeeding in public. J Hum Lact 1999; 15(2): 131. 8. Stuart-Macadam P, Dettwyler K. Breastfeeding: biocultural perspectives, foundations of human behaviour series.