Using liminality to understand mothers' experiences of long-term breastfeeding: 'betwixt and between', and 'matter out of place'

Dowling, Sally

Abstract

The embodied experience of breastfeeding can cause women to feel as if they are neither one thing nor another. This paper will consider the issue of long-term breastfeeding, using liminality to think about the experiences of a group of women who breastfeed beyond what is currently considered ‘normal’ in the UK. It draws on a qualitative study using micro-ethnographic methods, in which participant observation, face-to-face and online interviews were used to explore women’s experiences of long-term breastfeeding. Overall research findings will be discussed as well as considering how useful liminality is as a concept with which to understand them. Previous work has used liminality (the idea of being not one thing or another) to think about breastfeeding; here this is drawn on and developed to further understanding of the experiences of long-term breastfeeding. Themes identified highlight the challenges of engaging in a stigmatised, embodied, practice and in managing the personal and social consequences.

Citation

Dowling, S. (2016, March). Using liminality to understand mothers' experiences of long-term breastfeeding: 'betwixt and between', and 'matter out of place'. Presented at ESRC Seminar Series: Social Experiences of Breastfeeding: Building Bridges between Research and Policy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Lecture
• Conference Name: ESRC Seminar Series: Social Experiences of Breastfeeding: Building Bridges between Research and Policy
• Conference Location: Cardiff University, Wales, UK
• Start Date: Mar 2, 2016
• End Date: Mar 2, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: breastfeeding, long-term breastfeeding, liminality
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/918520
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Breastfeeding and the politics of embodiment.