"In a context of severe time poverty, double-cup, hands-free pumps are considered the most desirable, as they permit one to express milk from both breasts at once while driving to work on the freeway.”
– Nancy Fraser, 2016

Waged or unwaged, breastfeeding is and has always been work. Looking back through its history one finds examples of wet-nursing, lactation porn, cell-culturing and human milk banks. Using social reproduction theory as a framework, this session will use examples from the history of art and popular culture to track the contradictions of breastfeeding under capitalism. From medieval altarpieces of the Madonna breastfeeding, and early modern paintings of Roman Charity nursing her father, through to contemporary works of techno-optimism and Instagram posts of breast pumping celebrities. As these depictions of breastfeeding play out on screen a number of threads emerge: the fetishisation of breast milk; breastfeeding as a social relation; maternal generosity; denaturalisings; biocapitalism and the value of breast milk, amongst others. Weaving image with word demonstrates the many forms of breastfeeding as labour across history.

Join lecturers Holly Isard and Jo Harrison for a whistle-stop art historical tour through images of breastfeeding which will explore reproductive labour and breastfeeding as work. Followed by Q&A which welcomes open discussion with the group further exploring examples of reproductive labour (including and beyond breastfeeding) and how this is entangled within the contradictory landscape of capitalism. Expect to learn about the concept of social reproduction theory – a core concept within feminist theory.

ABOUT THE LECTURERS

Jo Harrison (she/her) is founder and curator of 'Repronomics', an ACE funded research project exploring the intersection of reproduction and economics through the lens of visual arts. She is Director at The Approach, London and recently co-founded and launched The Arts Working Parents Alliance with Hettie Judah. AWP is a UK based peer network, seeking to make the art industry a more accessible and welcoming place for parents.

Holly Isard (she/her) is a Wellcome Trust funded PhD student at the University of West London, where she is part of the Gender, Technology and Work research cluster. Starting from the position that all gestation can be thought through the lens of labour, her research explores the politics of reproductive technologies in visual culture."

This is a recording of a live session hosted by The Feminist Lecture Program in February 2024. The reading list for the class can be found alongside this rental.

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