Resisting Guilt: Mothers’ Breastfeeding Intentions and Formula Use

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 17. Maternal Behaviors and Identity

Abstract

Breastfeeding has been widely recognized as the optimal mode of infant feeding and has been the topic of numerous government-supported initiatives. Prior research has indicated that one outcome of the emphasis placed on breastfeeding is the experience of guilt, regret, shame, or inadequacy that mothers may feel when they do not or cannot breastfeed. Using data from ninety-six interviews with twenty-two first-time mothers, the experiences of mothers who wanted to breastfeed but used formula are explored. In this project, mothers did not express overwhelming feelings of guilt or failure, but rather engaged in strategies that maintained a positive maternal identity and resisted experiences of guilt. Using a grounded theory framework, three strategies were identified: framing the use of formula as not a choice, recognizing the effort that was placed into breastfeeding, and focusing on overall health and happiness. Arguments that emphasize experiences of guilt or failure may limit discourse on women’s agency and prevent broader discussions regarding the social context of breastfeeding.

Author

• Jeanne Anne Holcomb, University of Dayton