Text There are already concepts of milk siblings and practices of communal breastfeeding whoever has more provides for other children It would be great if this kind of sharing could be appropriately rewarded as recognition of the hard work involved in mil

Care, Labor, Candies: New Perspectives on Breastfeeding Clara Alisch | calisch
Submitted by calisch on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 12:14

There are already concepts of milk siblings and practices of communal breastfeeding: whoever has more provides for other children. It would be great if this kind of sharing could be appropriately rewarded as recognition of the hard work involved in milk production. I find it interesting to think about new exchange concepts, the exchange of human milk and its legally legitimised transfer. I think it is important to create publicity and visibility for milk as a resource. I find the model of Commoning by the political philosopher Silvia Frederici particularly exciting in this context. In organised, so-called community kitchens — Commonings — one’s own resources are consciously pooled in order to share them and thus supply the community. In addition, financial added value is also generated. I can also imagine these small forms of resource pooling for a collective and solidary practice of human dairy work. The initial disgust of stranger’s milk would perhaps dissolve. The work would be shared and for many it would be a relief. The concept of mixing different kinds of milk would dissolve the constructed boundaries between own and foreign. The mother model is not absolutely necessary; the task of reproductive work could be one of solidarity.

 

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