Power, Positionality, and Policymaking in Higher Education: Reflections on Student Lactation Support Initiatives

In recent years, universities have extended lactation protections to students that have been traditionally afforded to paid employees only. Absent federal- and state-level regulation, this expansion has generally been piecemeal, taking place only when “breastfeeding advocates” request (or demand) those protections within their universities. Little research exists on these initiatives or about the breastfeeding advocates themselves. This article describes three examples of student lactation support initiatives on diverse U.S. university campuses. Using a comparative case study approach, the researchers examined the impact of positionality within higher education—and relative power afforded to different positions—on the initiatives and experiences of breastfeeding advocates. It is necessary to raise awareness and critically reflect on power structures to bring about change. The researchers found benefits of empowering students to engage in collective advocacy toward these ends, with practical implications for future U.S. lactation protection in academia.