Waiting in the Wings: Portrait of a Queer Motherhood

points out that this writing often ignores the physicality of mothering. She seeks to bring this perspective into view. As a related issue, Blum also examines the role of men in breastfeeding. In the introduction, she promises an extended discussion of men's claims to female bodies and sexuality in relation to breastfeeding. In the substantive, empirical chapters, however, the focus seems to be on men's presence or absence and their level of financial, emotional, and practical support, with far less discussion of their claims to women's bodies and sexuality. A central theme of this work is that the notion of intensive, exclusive mothering has been embedded in medical discourse, advice, and that y and has always been a status-and class-enhancing project (9). In chapter two, Blum argues that nineteenth century maternalist reform efforts, expert advice on motherhood, and policy issues related to motherhood set the stage for contemporary social movements and the formation of La Leche League in 1965. Chapter three examines the ideology and practices ofLa Leche League and the middle-class, white mothers who are members of this organization. Chapters four and five address the meanings attached to breastfeeding bywhite, working-class and African American, working-class mothers, respectively, as well as the breastfeeding decisions and practices of these women. I assigned this text in a women's studies course entitled Theories and Politics of Motherhood. The students responded positively, offering only one criticism: 'What about middle-class, African American women? I echo this critique. The author's explanation for this absence is that La Leche League, where the middle-class respondents were found, is a white, middle-class organization. This explanation does little to satisfy the reader.1 enjoyed this book and have recommended it to sociology and women's studies scholars and students, as well as to women's health care professionals interested in breastfeeding. I would recommend this text for courses on motherhood and for courses on qualitative methods: it is a stellar example of interdisciplinary research methods.