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Of care and commodities: breast milk and the new politics of mobile biosubstances.

Authors :
Boyer, Kate
Source :
Progress in Human Geography. Feb2010, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p5-20. 16p.
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

Advances in lactation technology in recent years have changed the ontological status of breast milk, giving it new-found mobility. This paper considers the contested meanings over breast milk's 'proper place' in US and UK society. By synthesizing scholarship from geography, gender studies and science and technology studies, I use the case of mobile breast milk to propose a new framework for how geographers might conceptualize mobile biosubstances. Drawing on the work of Waldby and Mitchell (2006), I suggest that the ways in which breast milk now travels reflect how mobile biosubstances increasingly function as a hybrid form, drawing together elements of both gift-exchanges and commodity-exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03091325
Volume :
34
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Progress in Human Geography
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
47839462
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132509105003