Las amas de cría en Murcia en el último tercio del siglo XIXdiscursos y representaciones

Abstract

This PhD dissertation deals with the study of wet nurses in Murcia in the last decades of the 19th century. The aim is to understand the situation of these women, who made their maternity a time-limited work activity, which led them to work both for charitable institutions dedicated to children (Spanish foundling hospitals and homes, foster homes, orphanages, etc.) —as external or internal wet nurses—, and to raise children of wealthy families, who could support and pay them. This second option was the preferred one in the framework of paid breastfeeding, also known as mercenary, and on many occasions, after the breastfeeding period was over, wet nurses kept their “job” within family home as “dry nurses”, looking after the children. Often, affective bonds were established between wet nurses and children, and women extended their service in families or fostered orphaned children, whom they had breastfed in foundling homes. Solidarity between neighbours and relatives led some mothers, who were raising their own children, to altruistically breastfeed other people's children. In order to approach the subject, it has been necessary to consult different types of primary sources. On the one hand, we consulted educational, moral and medical discourses and treaties which, according to the standards of the time, from different spheres, were in favour of mothers breastfeeding their own children. Those who left their children in the hands of wet nurses were censured, and wet nurses were blamed for abandoning their biological children, since breastfeeding one's own child was considered the main maternal duty. Legislation, literature and press, including women's magazines, have also provided relevant information on the subject. In addition, it has been essential to study documents relating to foundling homes and women's associations, which are kept in various national and regional archives. Texts relating to women within family, motherhood, breastfeeding, and wet nursing had their counterpart in art. Paintings, illustrations in the press and, especially, photographs have illustrated many of the aspects dealt with. This PhD dissertation has been divided into two main sections. The first one is focused on women, family, and motherhood. It discusses the role of women in the society of the time, with references to living conditions, education, customs, and traditions. The hygienist discourse, which emphasised the physical and moral instruction of women in order to prepare them for their mission as carers and instructors of future citizens, was of great importance. The second one deals with the study of wet nurses in Murcia. It analyses the charitable practices carried out by female corporations dedicated to children, with particular reference to Cartagena and Lorca, and to the “Inclusa”, as the typical Spanish foundling home in that period. Finally, it considers the role played by wet nurses in the foundling home “Casa de Expósitos” and in family homes. In short, these women, who found a livelihood in breastfeeding, sacrificed the possibility of living with their children in order to provide food and care for other children.