Emma Ditlevson
Debra Japp
CMST 192, Section 15
15 October 2017
Pod Discussion 3
Language, in and of itself, is very powerful because it gives meaning and structure to the
way we can communicate. However, our perceptions and how we interpret that language can
vary across cultures, regions, and even individuals. In Elissa Strauss’ article “We Need to Stop
Calling Breast-Feeding Natural”, she examines the usage of the word, “natural” and how its
connotation can lead towards framing our perceptions. Having such a loose definition of
something that influences our society can lead to many problems, including its effect on our self-
esteem; we communicate with others daily, and with so many interactions, we receive reflected
appraisal. In other words, we form prototypes based on what we perceive to be good.
In parenthood, many couples have the choice to either bottle-feed or breastfeed their
children. Those who choose to breastfeed may use the argument that it is more “natural”, thus
causing families that choose not to or are unable to do so feel guilty. Using an argument such as
this implies that if families aren’t breastfeeding, they are acting in a way that is “unnatural”. In
our society, it’s common to think of the two as being good versus bad; when you put the two
words side-by-side, most people would evade the latter due to its negative connotation.
According to J. Dan Rothwell’s In the Company of Others, connotation is a “personal” definition
that “is the volatile, individual, subjective meaning of a word” (Rothwell 98). Strauss argues that
in continuously using “natural” in the ways that we do, we are saying that to be such “is A)
something that actually exists and B) healthier”. There are many situations in which breastfeed is
not possible or is undesirable. By deeming these situations as unnatural, peoples’ perceptions are
framed to think that being “natural” is better or healthier. Framing is the “influence wording has
on our perception of choices” and acts by narrowing how we perceive (Rothwell 95). The usage
of the word has even become a marketing strategy; if one were to walk into a grocery store, they
would see many products labeled as “natural”. This is because market researchers have found
that this word is more likely to draw buyers in as opposed to if the word was not present, due to
it having such a positive connotation. Many of us have been conditioned to think this way for so
long that we don’t stop to question its validity. After all, the definition itself varies across fields
of study; a social scientist may define “natural” differently from the way a philosopher may
