From the Milky Man Vest to Nursing on the Throne: Breastfeeding Representations in Fictional Television

Abstract

This chapter uses a study of 82 representations of breastfeeding in fictional television programs, from the first verbal reference in Little House on the Prairie (1974) through the 2015 Criminal Minds episode “Awake.” Foss examines a sample that spans target audiences and genres with such shows as Friends , Beavis and Butthead , Game of Thrones and Sex and the City . Overall, fictional television presents breastfeeding as mostly positive, but often limited to older, educated, Caucasian women nursing in private. Breastfeeding in public and nursing older children are conveyed as “deviant” and subject to criticism. Breastfeeding on television has become much more common and more diverse as contemporary portrayals include more women of color. Television producers could expand depictions to help normalize an array of experiences.

A portion of this chapter first appeared as the article: Foss, K.A. (2013). “That’s Not a Beer Bong, It’s a Breast Pump!” Representations of Breastfeeding in Prime-Time Fictional Television. Health Communication, 28(4), 329–340. Reprinted with permission.