Word(less words) Wednesday: Pictures Prospective Students Take #1! #WhyIDigAnthropology #YESHomo

I snapped the picture below, from it's original place -- on a door in the Anthropology Department, while I was visiting school last week, since I think there are so many awesome things about it. I think it paints a pretty good portrayal of Homo neanderthalensis, which, although there is a large debate, is said to be a close cousin to Homo sapiens (that's us!).

Many scientists suggest H. neanderthalensis existed alongside H. sapiens -- modern Homo sapiens began to evolve about 200,000 years ago, and H. neanderthalensis in the late pleistocene 125,000 -30,000 years ago. Even though some may or may not agree with the evolutionary theory (I sometimes am not sure just exactly how much I subscribe to myself), I think this image is a perfect opportunity to provide insight on the way I often look at things.

Usually, when I think about the way we live today -- foodways, gender, instinct, breastfeeding and other areas, I often times find myself comparing and maybe even fantasizing about life somewhere around this time. I think I mentally allow myself to go here because although it probably wasn't, it seems like an ideal era. This period was long before we became infused with culture that sent us on a rapid plunge. It was before Sony Electronics began telling us we need their latest flatscreen, or everyone rushed out to buy the newest iPhone, and even before I sat here and typed this post on my macbook. Our foods weren't genetically modified, and we didn't subsist off of a diet of modern agriculture which is, as author Lierre Keith put it, soaked in fossil fuels and disease-laden. We actually followed our instincts back then, and many social issues that influenced our choices on discrimination, racism, class and others, didn't exist. Breasts weren't a source of learned sexual behavior and something for the 'man,' and homes meant living in a cave or a rock shelter; there was no need to purchase an extra piece of vacation property or anything else, I imagine, to make ourselves feel as if we're fitting in. We were exceptionally healthy, and had what I imagine was an ideal reciprocal relationship with the land, plants, animals, and the environment -- not built off of either one exploiting the other.

*Sigh*

I could go on and on about this one here, but I'll stop here since this was technically supposed to be a 'Wordless' post with the image only, but, because I have to ramble a least some, morphed into 'less words' than I would usually write. And now it reading like a passionate novel. So I'll just stop and leave space open for discussion. My only question is.... what the heck happened?

References:

O'neill, Denny. Evolution of Modern Humans: Early Modern Homo Sapiens. http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_4.htm. Date accessed: March 27, 2013

University of Washington. Anthropology Department. Homo neanderthalensis. Image taken March 21, 2013.

Is Breastfeeding While Teaching Inappropriate?

I'd been thinking about the recent uproar over the nursing anthropology professor at American University. It's hard not to; the story is plastered over just about every media outlet that is and is not related to breastfeeding. I also listened to a short conversation on the NPR show Tell Me More, where three women along with the host, gave their opinions on the topic -- a couple varied, but they all seem to support the idea of breastfeeding.

I got the images in this post from a Lactation Consultant who has done work in Ecuador, where they were taken -- a place where educators frequently bring their babies to class, just like the one you see here being worn and carried around by its mother. When this baby gets hungry or fussy during a lesson, it will be breastfed -- yet instead of the instructor receiving incessant requests from the press wanting to discuss the 'incident,' being 'told on' on twitter for her child receiving milk in front of the classroom, having students drop the course or having to go on the defensive, no one says a thing. Why? It is part of normal activity there and in many other places outside of the U.S. Nursing a baby anytime, anywhere, is only inappropriate in anti-breastfeeding cultures. Take note, America.

Word(less words) Wednesday: A (Cross-Cultural) Constellation of Madonnas

Madonna of Soweto

After the previous Madonna With Twins post my curiosity was piqued about others, and after I started composing this 'Wordless Wednesday' article, couldn't help but weigh in a bit. It took minimal searching to find a number of 'Madonna and Child' images that were close to the original artwork but I've been more interested in gaining an understanding on how this Holy dyad is depicted and experienced on a larger, more global level -- around the world, and how it reflects those different social and sub/cultural ideas and locations. Below are some of the images I've come across so far -- all linked to the sites where I found them, and you can continue to conduct your own research as well. Also, I don't know enough about the figures to know why some are breastfeeding -- which is what initially caught my attention about the Virgin, while others are not and what the significance of that is within the context, but I'd definitely be interested in finding out. I may do more research if I can get around to it, but in the meantime check this post often, because I may update it when I come across others -- there's a countless amount out there, and they vary even within cultures and within religions. It's so fascinating, and such an awesome example of seeing how these are projected through each creator or on-looker's cultural lens.

  

   Mambo Ezili Danto (aka Erzulie Dantor)      black madonna + child via Pinterest

Adriaen Isenbrant - The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child

My friend took this image on his visit to New Orleans Museum of Art. 3/13/13

                          Madonna and Child by David Forte                Apache Virgin and Child

                               Isis/Auset and Horus                       Soup's On Madonna and Child

                            Indian Madonna and Child                          By Olga Polun, 2008

 

                        African Madonna and Child.                           Massai Madonna and Child

                               Country not specified.              

 

                           'Gladys and Elizabeth'                      Moghul 'Hennaed Madonna and Child'

 

                         Lunar Madonna                                             Virgin and Child, Ethopian

                       

                      Black Madonna and Child, Nigeria                           Madre Mestiza

Why Didn't YOU Breastfeed?: Getting Past 'Excuse-Like' Excuses

I recently realized something. More often than not when I find myself in conversations with women about feeding their children -- mostly on how they fed, I get very different reactions. Now it is normal to receive different reactions since everyone's story is different, but what I've noticed is when a woman says she has breastfed, it is usually followed by a long and sentimental story they are willing to share. The mother's look of pride is written all over her face as she boasts of the amount of time she nursed, how she did it, whether she pumped on occasion, and this is usually followed by a story of her nursing history -- hers, or her family's. I've also noticed when I talk to women who did not breastfeed the conversation is usually much shorter, somewhere in that time, she'll give her reasons, but often in an almost excuse-like excuse.

I want to explain what I mean by the phrase 'excuse-like' excuse, and I had to refer to my dictionary for the definition of 'Excuse' so I could give you a clear explanation of what I believe to be an "Excuse-like' excuse.

According to the dictionary on my Macbook, when the word 'Excuse' is used as a verb it denotes:

  1 attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek todefend or justify • forgive (someone) for a fault or offense : you must excuse my sister | hecould be excused for feeling that he was born at the wrong time.• overlook or forgive (a fault or offense) • (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (a person or act) :his ability excuses most of his faults.When 'Excuse' is used as a noun it denotes: 1 a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault oroffense : there can be no possible excuse for any further delay • a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; apretext : they use their hunting as an excuse to get away from the womenfolk.

As you can see, "excuse" is used to try and cover something, get out of, or to defend or justify. To explain the reasons for not doing something -- with an embedded notion that something should have been done.

Unlike excuses, 'excuse-like' excuses need a more holistic look. Unlike direct ways to avert something "I should have but didn't", 'Excuse-like' excuses are often non-verbal cues -- body language, lack of eye contact, overall facial demeanor, or when your instincts tell you a woman does not want to continue or to take part in the conversation about why she didn't nurse. If you know a woman who has children and did not breastfeed, it is easy to tell when she uses an 'Excuse-like' excuse, when the subject comes us, she mostly maintains her silence. This is your ability to recognize an 'Excuse-like' excuse. 'Excuse-like' excuses are reactions and non-reactions to actions, or you can say an action to a reaction. Let me make myself a bit clearer.

If I went up to someone, and said "What an adorable little baby! Did you breastfeed?" That automatically suggests she should have breastfed her baby, not giving any thought to her situation, or her breastfeeding culture.

If the mother said "No, I didn't breastfeed because -- my job, my spouse, my lack of understanding, etc., many would quickly jump to the conclusion that these were excuses, and offered their suggestions:
"You could have pumped, it's not your spouses decision, there are books available, etc." However the mother's (reaction) is not an excuse-like' excuse. An 'excuse-like' excuse is being silenced (non-reaction) through these types of conversations (actions), where a mother is not allowed to state her reasons for fear of backlash (again, non reaction). Does this make sense?

No one wants to face this type of opposition in a time where breastfeeding fundamentalism is all around. Though I can't say I blame people for advocating breastfeeding, however, extreme breastfeeding needs to be placed in its proper context. As I've said before: I support breastfeeding as part of the natural reproductive cycle directly after birth, and would like it if every baby received mother's milk. But I also recognize that that thought is idealistic at best. Different people have different stories. I recognize that above and below the surface are various reasons a mother has not, cannot, or will not breastfeed her child, which is why I believe a holistic approach is not only beneficial but necessary in understanding infant feeding, and viewing this area through the mother's lens -- what she faces on a daily basis, and what has shaped this outlook. This is also why I have decided to make more of an effort to listen and learn from mothers, and let them explain to me what infant feeding means to them. This is also why I am wanting to know from a group who is often pushed into the margins and who are often met with breastfeeding fundamentalism and silenced.

I am an proponent of mother's milk. But I am not in favor of arbitrary judgement or, like I said before, an extreme breastfeeding advocate! I don't advocate excuse-like excuses, nor do I believe those who do not nurse do not want the best for their babies. Not at all. I am coming from a place of sincere curiosity and from wanting to learn from you and your breastfeeding culture -- those things that have shaped your outlook and views, and how you daily put this into practice. This will only work effectively to increase my level of understanding as well as fortify the level of understanding we have of each other as a group. 

Why Black Women Who Bottle-Feed Matter (Video)

Black women who use infant formula  seem to get a lot of heat from many different directions these days -- outside and inside of our community. I've even found myself wondering why, if someone is fully capable and the benefits of breastfeeding have been proven, would breastfeeding not be the only option. But the more I think about it the more I realize what shapes our decisions  is not always so cut and dry, and is not always  about capability or desire, but it comes from our culture, our influences, and our lived and learned experiences -- those that we have been exposed to and what we daily put into practice.

I have been exposed to breastfeeding for as long as I can remember. Every woman in my family who has kids has breastfed, as have my friends at some point or another, and I know that there are many others who have been exposed to this same legacy. But  looking at this idea and understanding that everyone has been exposed to a different culture really forces me to try and understand those who have been exposed to a different legacy and upbringing -- one where infant formula is considered the natural feeding method. 

The way some understand breastfeeding is the same way others understand infant formula, and this is the framework, shaping the way we choose to nurture our children. Other ways that shape us are media representations and (mis)representation, and the way we are portrayed as Black women, as Black mothers, as Black people. The lack of Black women breastfeeding in images plays a large role, they way our bodies are portrayed contributes, and we can't overlook the fact that infant formula is entirely too easy to come by. We also live in a society that does not place a large value on breastfeeding, and this is clearly evident by the way we frame work and breastfeeding in public -- and even how we view breasts as nothing more than sexualized objects. The list is long. Breastfeeding is also a learned skill, and just because it is something we can do naturally, does not mean it comes naturally, and there are women everywhere who become frustrated and overwhelmed, which contributes to the decline. 

I know that making a positive impact on our community is necessary in order to show all the benefits breastfeeding has to offer. But I think it is also important to find ways to fully understand the reasons many do not breastfeed, and look below the surface in order to find ways to arrive at the outcomes we need in order to have a healthier community. I have found that it's really easy to throw our beliefs onto other people, telling them why we believe a certain way and why they should also. But much more difficult to try to truly understand where someone is coming from in order to see infant feeding the way they see it. I challenge you to get to know the breastfeeding culture of someone around you, regardless of their gender or whether they do or do not have children.