Analysis and Application of the Concept of Modesty to Breastfeeding

Modesty may be a significant variable impacting breast-feeding outcomes in western cultures, yet this term has received minimal attention in the breastfeeding literature. An analysis of the concept of modesty was conducted to gain greater understanding of the potential impact of modesty on breastfeeding outcomes. Various uses of the term modesty and particularly modesty in the context of breastfeeding are discussed in this paper. The defining attributes of breastfeeding modesty are identified and examples are provided. Implications for research and clinical practice are suggested.