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How Lactivism Reshapes Knowledge, Meanings, and Practices of Breastfeeding

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How Lactivism Reshapes Knowledge, Meanings, and Practices of Breastfeeding SOCIAL STRUGGLES OVER BREASTFEEDING: HOW LACTIVISM RESHAPES KNOWLEDGE, MEANINGS, AND PRACTICES OF BREASTFEEDING. Submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of PhD Sociology by Aleksandra Maria Męcińska BA UWE, MA Lancs/CSS, MA Warsaw Lancaster University Sociology Department 29th September 2017 I declare this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in substantially the same form for the award of a higher degree elsewhere. 1 Abstract This thesis examines women's role in the social struggles over the meanings and practices of breastfeeding. From an initial observation in 2011 and 2012 of two situated flash mob protests in Warsaw, Poland and Bristol, England, the thesis proceeds with an understanding of breastfeeding as a site of discursive and embodied struggle, a social and political issue. The thesis explores how women are involved in meaning-making and knowledge production on breastfeeding, through specific forms of social media participation and embodied activism (lactivism). Informed by over 30 years of feminist social scientific interest in breastfeeding, the thesis focuses on contemporary women's activism, experiences and practices of breastfeeding within the context of increased attention by state and non-governmental actors to falling breastfeeding rates in European countries. To this end, the thesis interrogates a health social movement framework, and argues that grass-roots activist endeavours are an under-researched element of the broader pro-breastfeeding movement. Based on active participation in Polish and UK lactivist spaces on- and offline, participant observation of breastfeeding-related events, and using women’s stories about breastfeeding experiences gathered through 20 in-depth interviews conducted between 2012 and 2016 with self-defined breastfeeding women, the thesis looks at the discursive and embodied tactics employed by women in struggles over breastfeeding. Specifically, it pays attention to the complex relationship between bio-medical evidence and advice, and women’s pro-breastfeeding activism. The thesis has three main strands of investigation: it tracks how on-and offline groups shape contemporary practices of breastfeeding, as well as creating a sense of solidarity and togetherness which allow lactivism to flourish; it reveals how woman to woman support within online groups increasingly ‘patches the gaps’ in state health support to breastfeeding women, transforming medical recommendations into practical, livable solutions; and it examines how lactivists actively engage in the making of new cultural representations of breastfeeding. The thesis argues that the transformation of social meaning of breastfeeding rests on women’s potential to craft effective (counter-) representations of breastfeeding, and to deploy ‘health’ claims as a discursive opportunity structure to forward pro-breast-feeding agendas. 2 Acknowledgements First and foremost my deepest thanks go to the wonderful women whose participation and support made this project what it is – Magda, Anna, Honorata, Sylwia, Lina, Ola, Marysia, Asia, Agnieszka, Paula, Marta, Maria, Tatiana, Hanna dziekuje and thank you to Shel, Lucy, Gemma, Lisa, Nickie, and Vicky. To my fellow lactivists, members of groups and administrators, who allowed me to tell this story from the ‘inside’: I hope that I have done your dedication justice and that you will understand the loving critique of our community contained within this thesis. To my supervisors, Dr Vicky Singleton and Prof Imogen Tyler – thank you for your support and for the intellectual challenges, for giving me the freedom to discover, and to learn from failures and successes alike. To my examiners Dr Debra Ferreday and Dr Kate Boyer – thank you for your comments and for helping me make this work even better. Many thanks as well to the panel members Prof Maureen McNeil and Dr Richard Tutton for their helpful comments and direction, and to other members of Sociology at Lancaster who were generous in their conversations throughout my time there. Many thanks also to fellow breastfeeding scholars, who believed in me, especially to Dr Sally Dowling and Prof Amy Brown – it meant a lot to know you have faith in what I am doing. And to my colleagues at Lancaster University – in the Sociology Department and beyond – especially to my writing buddies Harri, Merce, Nathan, Derly, Cosmin, Magda, Andy, Helen, Sadaf, Cath, and my fellow feminists Jude, Ece, Kate, Susie, Ali, Laura, Amy, Lucy, Erica - thank you for creating the networks that sustained me. But this academic life is not the only life I have and it is only fair I mention my colleagues at University of Cumbria, and the wonderful Jackie and staff at Cafe Martineu, who knew my usual and looked out for me, keeping me fed and hydrated. And many thanks to all the wonderful people who looked after my children, while I was busy with this endeavour, especially Susana and Sam at Kid’s Club who so often rescued me at late notice. Finally, my personal gratitude to my friends Mag & Tats, and Nayanika, Carolyne, Karolina and Caroline, who motivated me, kept my spirits high, and watched over me. You are a true blessing. To my Dad, for believing in me and supporting me financially, and to my Mom and Step-Dad for being there for our family- kocham Was i dziekuje. To my Mother-in-law and my late Father-in-law my gratitude for their personal support and medical insight. This work would never have happened without my two boobie monsters Leon and Adam, who made me a lactivist and will I am sure one day make fine supporters. And to Pawel, my love, forever grateful for everything you sacrificed to carry me to this point. This is for you. Thank you. 3 Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 3 Prologue .............................................................................................................................. 8 Warsaw Protest – the aftermath ................................................................................................ 12 Bristol protest ............................................................................................................................ 19 Guide to chapters .............................................................................................................. 24 Introduction: Framing the struggles over breastfeeding ................................................... 29 Breastfeeding as embodied practice .......................................................................................... 32 Struggles over meanings ........................................................................................................... 34 Legal and policy context of breastfeeding struggles 2010-2016............................................... 35 Breastfeeding as a ‘pro-health’ behaviour?.............................................................................. 48 Chapter 1: Breastfeeding Activism and Health in Social Movement perspective ............ 55 Embodied Health Movements: breastfeeding movement, women’s health movement, de- and re-medicalisation ....................................................................................................................... 56 Boundary movements and boundaries in movements ............................................................... 63 Networked Social Movements and Movement Tactics ............................................................ 66 Chapter 2: Methodological-reflexive account................................................................... 71 Entering the Lactosphere .......................................................................................................... 72 Feminist research, reflexivity, and knowing ............................................................................. 76 Knowledgeable subjects ............................................................................................................ 79 Doing research as a breastfeeding body .................................................................................... 85 Positions and locations .............................................................................................................. 91 ‘Collecting’ and ‘curating’ ethnographic objects ...................................................................... 93 Beyond textual approaches ....................................................................................................... 96 Chapter 3: Woman to woman support and online groups ............................................... 100 The need for support. .............................................................................................................. 100 Emotional support ................................................................................................................... 105 Support to negotiate medical encounters ................................................................................ 109 Limits of support? ................................................................................................................... 113 Togetherness as a base ............................................................................................................ 117 Beyond support ......................................................................................................................
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