Review by Choice Review
Editors Cassidy and El Tom have put together a broad look at the modern and historical experience of breastfeeding. They consider not just the product and the process of breastfeeding but also the participants, including mothers, children, wet nurses, surrogates, and health care professionals. The collection takes an international perspective, focusing on South American countries, Middle Eastern Countries, and African countries as well as Europe and the US. Contributors explore the scientific, religious, social, medical, and economic considerations of breastfeeding. They are open about criticisms and problems in the current research, primarily focused on jargon and definitions. As this is ethnographic research, the articles primarily use qualitative methodologies. The only criticism is that even though subjects are from all over the world, researchers are primarily from North America and Western Europe. Chapter notes, extensive bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. --Sara Marks, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
