I just got a rejection notice from Social Science and Medicine for a
manuscript I submitted to them back in March. Both of the reviewers (who
most likely are anthropologists, and must not have kids) have no problem
with my research suggesting that 2.5-7.0 years is a normal range for modern
human breastfeeding duration. What they find hard to accept is my claim
that health care professionals *ever* tell mothers that it is not a good
idea to breastfeed beyond a certain amount of time -- whether because the
breast milk turns to water, has no value, or will make their baby sick, or
because it is sick/perverted/abnormal for them to want to continue nursing,
or because it will make their baby too dependent or harm them
psychologically. They want me to cite references to studies proving that
doctors say these things. Of course, I am not aware of any studies. There
is a brief two-line mention in Lawrence, and my own work. I have asked Liz
Baldwin if she keeps any records about the number of calls she gets that
have to do with court cases and charges of sexual abuse.
I am asking any of you who have had personal experience with doctor's saying
such things, or whose clients have had personal experience with doctor's
saying such things, to write me up a brief description of what happened, who
said what, the justification, the age of the baby, etc. All pertinent
details. Including if this is first-hand experience, through a client, or
just "something you heard" third or fourth hand. Please help me out with
this folks. I'm not sure if the editor and reviewers will accept such
anecdotal evidence, but I am not aware of any published studies I can cite,
and don't want to wait several years until I can conduct my own survey of
pediatricians. And I doubt that most of them would put in writing what they
say to moms.
Thanks.
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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D. email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX 77843-4352
http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/dettwyler.html
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