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'Surely a little discretion isn't too difficult'? The discursive construction of discretion in users' comments on UK newspaper articles about public breastfeeding.

Alexandra KentJoanne MeredithKirsty Budds
Published in: Psychology & health (2023)
Our findings confirm empirically that support for public breastfeeding is constructed as contingent on mothers displaying discretion. Our analysis highlights the challenges for mothers and babies for whom breastfeeding is compromised by an unwillingness to feed in public, perhaps due to pervasive constructions of breastfeeding women as selfish, exhibitionist, inconsiderate and unfit mothers in public discourse. Finally, our findings demonstrate the practical accomplishment in everyday life of the type of constructions of breastfeeding women that have been powerfully conceptualised by previous researchers.
Keyphrases
  • preterm infants
  • healthcare
  • mental health
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • metabolic syndrome
  • cross sectional
  • adipose tissue
  • breast cancer risk
  • cervical cancer screening