Theorizing Breastfeeding Support Assemblages: Developing a More-Than-Human Conceptualization for Breastfeeding
1School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Qualitative Health Research
|October 31, 2025
Summary
Breastfeeding support is more than just people; it involves complex human and non-human factors. Future research should explore these "more-than-human" elements for better support strategies.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Health
- Public Health Research
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Current breastfeeding support studies often overlook non-human influences.
- The social landscape, including technology and commercial pressures, impacts parenting.
- Existing frameworks inadequately capture the multifaceted nature of breastfeeding support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new research agenda for breastfeeding support.
- To conceptualize breastfeeding support as influenced by human and non-human actors.
- To extend theories of family practices to include "more-than-human" infant feeding encounters.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of breastfeeding support studies.
- Development of a conceptual framework for "more-than-human" breastfeeding support.
- Proposal for future qualitative and mixed-methods research.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding support is an embodied, relational, and emergent process.
- Support is shaped by a complex interplay of human and non-human elements.
- The sociomaterial environment significantly influences breastfeeding support availability.
Conclusions:
- Rethinking breastfeeding support requires acknowledging "more-than-human" influences.
- Future research should adopt a broader perspective on breastfeeding support.
- Understanding the sociomaterial context is crucial for effective breastfeeding support provision.
Keywords:
assemblagebreastfeeding supportbreastfeeding support studiesfeminist new materialismmore-than-humanqualitative healthMore Related Videos
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