Honors Theses
Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Susan Pedigo
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Within a biological perspective, breasts are indisputably for the use of nourishment of the young. This can be seen by how mammary glands are used by every other species other than humans. Humans are the only species that also looks at breasts within a cultural perspective, and that perspective is where the debate of breastfeeding occurs. There is really no debate that if given the option to breastfeed, breastfeeding is the best choice for the development of infants due to the fact that breast milk has been adapted for the human physique. In spite of the health benefits associated with breastfeeding and the economic disadvantages that accompany the use of infant formula, social influences have caused a shift in neonatal health in the United States from wet-nursing to breastfeeding to now formula feeding. The method of gathering data about this topic was primarily from previous studies and reports in the same method as a literature review. The findings of this paper support the notion that breastfeeding nourished infants best; however, cultural influences cause mothers to choose bottle-feeding more often due to factors such as an increase of women in the workforce, the sexualization of breasts, and the influence of the formula industry.
Recommended Citation
Cegielski, Alison R., "Breastfeeding: Physiological and Cultural Influences" (2015). Honors Theses. 40.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/40
Accessibility Status
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