Donna, what an excellent idea for study! I have compared the way we treat breasts in the U.S to the way oriental people once treated feet - all kinds of manipulations (surgeries) to make them more sexy, to the extent that their natural function is impaired. Not sure who to credit with that bit of wisdom...Katherine Dettwyler, perhaps? I have heard from moms who really believed they were too "sensitive" to bf, and it was a point of pride to them ("my skin is too fair, too delicate"). This is very similar to ideas about birth: a "feminine" woman couldn't possibly squat or get on her hands and knees to have her baby, much less grunt while pushing. Birthing naturally and breastfeeding are fine for primitive, third-world women (specifically the women of color we see in National Geographic) but southern ladies are too sophisticated, civilized, and refined to do it. Elaine Ziska Jackson, MS *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html