Allomaternal nursing in humans

Current Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 55(2) • University of Chicago Press • • Published In • Pages: 200-229 •
By Hewlett, Barry S., Winn, Steve

Abstract

Considerable variation has been observed in allomaternal nursing (breast-feeding by individuals other than mothers) behavior across contemporary foraging populations: while relatively common in some populations, it is rare or absent among others. Here the authors examine data on allomaternal nursing from 12 previous studies of foraging societies and utilize a worldwide sample of 104 cultures to assess global variation in allomaternal nursing.

Note

Authors utilized the entire eHRAF World Cultures database; data on allomaternal nursing was present in 104 cultures. Due to the scant amount of research into this topic, hypotheses presented here are largely exploratory results rather than tests of prior expectations.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearcher's Own
Various sources (data on foraging groups)Other researchers10/12 sources were based on personal correspondence

Hypotheses (6)

HypothesisSupported
Among contemporary foragers, allomaternal nursing will be normative (6).Mixed
Among contemporary foragers, populations in tropical forest environments will have more frequent allomaternal nursing than those in arid environments (6).Some support
Allomaternal nursing will be present in most cultures in the ethnographic record (7).Supported
"Milk kinship" will be more prevalent among stratified cultures, and allomaternal nursing is imposed on lower-class women in these cultures (8).Mixed
Cross-culturally, matrilineal kin will be more likely to provide allomaternal nursing than patrilineal kin (10).Not Supported
Cross-culturally, providers of allomaternal nursing will tend to be close kin (9).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: erik.ringen