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Our Unhealthy Obsession With Intelligence
Friday, November 16, 2007
We keep hearing and reading about studies that link intelligence to breastfeeding. Hear what I think about these studies. (HINT: I don't like them). Then let me know what you think.
Mobile post sent by Jennifer J using Utterz.
Labels: breastfeeding news, commentary
posted by Jennifer James @ 8:50 AM,
5 Comments:
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At November 16, 2007 11:18 AM,
steelwingedbutterfly said...
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We may be obsessed with intelligence, but that doesn't keep us from being shallow! Breastfeeding is an amazing and fulfilling total body experience for child AND mother, affecting physical, emotional and mental health. Scientists are trying to break down this experience into categorical studies to prove something, but what good does studying it to death do us in the long run?
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At November 16, 2007 11:55 AM,
Eilat said...
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Hi Jennifer. I completely agree with you that the whole IQ discussion harms efforts to convince mothers to breastfeed their babies. I had this discussion with my best friend a few weeks ago over email and rather than try to find all the right words again, ill just quote myself ;-)
"One of the things that really annoys me about the lactivist movement is the whole "breastfed babies = higher IQ" thing. All I think this does is make women who didn't breastfeed defensive about their babies' intelligence, and does nothing to convince anyone to try breastfeeding.
I was talking to a mom of a 7 month old at my nephew's birthday party and she was talking about possibly weaning now that she went back to work and really dislikes pumping. I pointed out to her that lots of women don't pump at work and still nurse at home and can maintain a supply and do so for a long time. I encouraged her not to actively wean just because of that, and pointed out that there are so many benefits still to the milk. I didnt mention anything specific, but...
Her response? Well, the studies with the IQ arent very good, you know. Because they cant correct for socioeconomic background, etc.
Never mind that the latest studies are able to correct for these things. Who cares? Is it really about 3 IQ points (or 7 or 8 or whatever). You want your kid to be smart? Read to her, talk to her, turn off the TV. There are your 8 IQ points.
I replied to her, as matter-of-factly as I could, "well, I don't think the IQ thing is anyone's main motivator for breastfeeding..."
And it isn't, but it is used, i think, to shame people, like "your kid wouldn't be so stupid if you breastfed", or something. I really don't think anyone changes their mind about breastfeeding because of the IQ thing." -
At November 16, 2007 1:35 PM,
ShayShay said...
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I always thought the connection was between other things a nursing mother was more likely to have/do, like higher income/better school district, stay at home more often than working, etc. I say screw the mommy wars! I'm a Similac baby and doing just fine.
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At November 17, 2007 1:19 AM,
Jennifer James said...
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SO glad we agree on this one, Eilat :)
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At November 30, 2007 1:18 AM,
Kysha said...
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I had never been caught up with IQ figures before deciding to breastfeeding my children. My primary concern was health reasons and should be for all moms.
