Speaking Topics and Fees
by Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.

My current speaking fee is $1000 for one day (1-2 presentations), $1500 for two days (3-4 presentations), plus all travel expenses. I now live in Newark, Delaware, so I fly out of Philadelphia. I give discounts to LLL groups, and additional discounts if the trip doesn't involve flying somewhere (i.e., if I can drive, or get there by train or bus). My address and email are:

Dr. K.A. Dettwyler
One Orchard Avenue
Newark, DE 19711-5523
kadettwyler@hotmail.com

Listed below are the presentations that I do. The times can be flexible, within limits (shorter, or longer with more Q&A/discussion).

Presentations:

(1) Breastfeeding and the Media (1.5 hours) - What are the messages we receive about breastfeeding from the popular media? Are they accurate? Do they help or hinder the work of breastfeeding advocacy?

(2) Beauty and the Breast (1.5 hours) - Looks at how breasts and breastfeeding are thought of in North American culture (mostly US), and how breastfeeding is portrayed in the media, the problems this causes for women wishing to breastfeed and still have a [public] life, and how to go about changing some of these beliefs. Update of Chapter 7 from Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives.

(3) A Time to Wean (1.5 hours) - An overview of my research on what would be a natural age of weaning in modern humans if we didn't have various cultural beliefs about it (2.5 years to 7.0 years). Similar to Chapter 2 from Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives.

(4) Promoting Breastfeeding, Promoting Guilt- (1.25-1.5 hours) - A frank discussion of the problem of health care professionals saying they don't want to give mothers complete and accurate information about the risks of artificial infant formula because they are worried about making mothers feel guilty about not breastfeeding. Includes examples of how guilt is often used to promote healthy behaviors in health advertising, and seeks to understand who is really being "protected" from feeling guilty in the breastfeeding context. Ends with a discussion of the distinction between guilt and regret, and steps for moving beyond guilt.

(5) Extended Breastfeeding in the US (1 hour) - A talk based on the findings of my survey research on mothers who breastfeed beyond 3 years in the US. The survey data include over 1,200 children, the oldest of whom nursed until they were 9 years old. Includes a discussion of whether weaning was child-led, mother-led, or negotiated, and a discussion of tandem nursing.

(6) Motherhood in Mali (1 hour) - An informal talk based on my research with mothers in Mali, West Africa, in the 1980s. Looks at how motherhood and breastfeeding work in a culture where everyone breastfeeds and mother-baby pairs are not isolated from other, more experienced mothers, since familes are large and extended.

(7) Natural Parenting: Anthropological Perspectives on Caring for Young Humans (1.5 hours) - An overview of anthropological (evolutionary and cross-cultural) perspectives on cosleeping, baby-wearing, including Kangaroo Care, breastfeeding and weaning, and infant crying. An excellent introduction for those not familiar with anthropology.

(8) Breastfeeding and Feminism (1 hour) - Why breastfeeding is a feminist issue, and why true feminists understand that breastfeeding and nurturing our children is one of the most important things a modern woman can do with her time and talents.

(9) Breastfeeding as a Human Rights Issue (1 hour) - A hard-hitting look at the value of approaching breastfeeding from the point of view of human rights. I discuss how others have framed the issue, and conclude that they are not bold enough. If we are truly to declare that breastfeeding is every child's right, then it is every mother's duty to breastfeed (if she can, which is 99.99% of all mothers). If a woman is not willing to breastfeed for the minimum duration recommended by health experts, then she shouldn't have children. Great for starting discussions and debates.

Last updated March 22, 2008 by Kathy Dettwyler. Contents copyright 1997-2008 Sue Ann Kendall and Kathy Dettwyler. The contents of these pages may be printed out for personal use. Further distribution is prohibited. The dancing skeleton image, copyright Phyllis Hughes, is used with permission.

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