Nicole:  Your comments are interesting.  Although some women have tried
to avoid breastfeeding throughout history, in the past there were no
substitutes considered safe, therefore you had to be rich enough to
afford a wet nurse.  In the 20th century, a "safe" alternative became
available, but I believe that this precipitated the establishment of a
new social norm, with the catalysts being (yes) patriarchy, commercialism
and technology.  I agree that there is an underlying wish in some women
to avoid their "biology", but I doubt that is the main factor in the
widespread adoption of formula as equivalent to breastfeeding.  My main
reason for this is that women who are given accurate information that is
relevant to them tend to choose to breastfeed, and the obstacles appear
to be social ones.  I read somewhere that the number of women who state
the intention to breastfeed is significantly higher than the actual
initiation rates, so I don't believe women's wishes are the only factor
here.  Alicia.  [log in to unmask]