[Historical evolution of breastfeeding. Rights and family conciliation]
1Universidad de Alcalá. rafael.toro@uah.es
Revista De Enfermeria (Barcelona, Spain)
|February 17, 2011
Summary
Human milk is vital for infant survival, with breastfeeding practices evolving alongside women's social and cultural roles. Legal rights for nursing mothers have advanced significantly, ensuring broader recognition for family reconciliation.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- History of Medicine
- Public Health
Context:
- Breastfeeding practices have historically fluctuated, influenced by societal perceptions and the availability of artificial feeding methods.
- The 19th century saw the rise of artificial nursing, which overshadowed natural breastfeeding for a significant period.
- Societal views often devalued breastfeeding, associating it with lower social classes and leading to the use of wet nurses by affluent women.
Purpose:
- To trace the historical evolution of breastfeeding practices and their societal context.
- To examine the development of legal rights related to breastfeeding and maternal leave.
- To understand the changing perceptions of breastfeeding from a historical perspective.
Summary:
- Human milk has been crucial for human survival, with breastfeeding's history intertwined with women's social and cultural status.
- Artificial nursing emerged in the 19th century, diminishing the prominence of natural breastfeeding.
- Early 20th-century labor laws began to include nursing permissions, which have since expanded into comprehensive family reconciliation rights.
Impact:
- Highlights the historical marginalization and subsequent legal re-validation of breastfeeding.
- Underscores the connection between women's rights, social norms, and infant feeding practices.
- Provides a historical framework for understanding current policies on maternal leave and family support.
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