Callaghan, J. and Lazard, L. (2007) Parenting online: an analysis of internet discussions about parenting. Paper presented to: Psychology of Women Section (British Psychological Society), Windsor, 18-20 July 2007.
Internet usage is an increasingly common feature of contemporary life in post-industrial societies. One use of the internet involves ‘online communities’, structured around message boards. In this paper, we explore women’s usage of online parenting communities, focusing specifically on discussions relating to breastfeeding. Using a feminist approach to discourse analysis, we explore the ways in which women present themselves as parents online, and the manner in which they construct an identity as ‘breastfeeder’ or ‘bottlefeeder’ within threads focused on infant feeding