Lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cardiff, Wales
[email protected]
Degrees received:
Ph.D. 1985 Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Breastfeeding, Weaning, and Other Infant Feeding Practices in Mali and Their Effects on Growth and Development
M.A. 1981 Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington
B.S. 1977 Anthropology, University of California, Davis
History of employment:
2005-2017 Associate Professor, Supplemental Faculty, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
FIRED FOR AN OPINION I POSTED TO MY OWN FACEBOOK PAGE, AND WAS ATTACKED BY NAZI/WHITE SUPREMACISTS . . . BUT WHATEVER . . . . .
2004-2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Millersville Univ., Millersville, PA
2002-2004 Assistant to the Executive Director, American Philosophical Association, Newark, DE
Fall 2001 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology & Women's Studies Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Fall 2001 Focus Group Facilitator, Center for Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
2002-present [Honorary] Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
1993-2002 Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Anthropology, and member of the Faculty in Nutrition, Texas A&M University
1987-1993 Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, and member of the Graduate Faculty in Nutrition, Texas A&M University
1994 Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY, October, 1994
1985-1987 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Research interests:
Medical anthropology/Evolutionary medicine
Nutritional anthropology
Infant/child feeding practices (cross-cultural and
evolutionary perspectives on breastfeeding, weaning, and solids)
Growth and development
Research methodology
Ethical/philosophical issues in anthropology and medicine
History of Delaware State (Mental) Hospital in the late 1800s and early 1900s
Courses qualified to teach:
Introduction to Anthropology/People, Primates, and Prehistory (4-field)
Introduction to Physical/Biological Anthropology
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology and Human Nature
Medical Anthropology/Evolutionary Medicine
Nutritional Anthropology
Modern Human Variation and Adaptation
Growth and Development/Anthropometry
Peoples and Cultures of the World
Peoples and Cultures of Africa
Classic Ethnographies
Women and Culture (focus on biology and reproduction)
Male/Female
Evolutionary and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Childbirth and Childrearing
Evolution of Human Sex Roles and Reproduction
Women and Health
Research Methods and Ethics in Anthropology
Honors and special recognition
2011 One of the experts interviewed for the documentary film by C.M. Hardt, "Mothers’ Milk – The Original Food"
2007 La Leche League International Award of Recognition
2005 One of the experts interviewed for the documentary film by Francine Strickwerda and Laurel Spellman Smith, "Busting Out"
2001 Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, from Texas A&M University in conjunction with the Association of Former Students
1995 Margaret Mead Award of the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology for Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa
2000 "Fish Camp" (new student orientation) named in my honor
1998-2003 Member of the Health Advisory Board of the Professional Advisory Council of La Leche League International, invited position
1998 Invited to give the annual Skomp Lecture in Anthropology at Indiana University, Bloomington (first time an alumnus was invited to give this lecture)
1998 One of three women profiled in Carolyn Latteier's book Breasts: The Women's Perspective on an American Obsession
1997 Nominated for the W. W. Howells prize in Biological Anthropology for Dancing Skeletons
1994 Nominated for the Victor Turner prize in humanistic anthropology for Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. Also nominated in 1995.
1992 & 1994 Commendation from the Texas Department of Health "For devotion to infant health through the promotion and support of breastfeeding"
1988 Listed in the International Directory of Anthropologists and Social Scientists Concerned with Food and Nutrition
1977 B.S. in Anthropology, Highest Honors, University of California, Davis
Record of publications:
Books
Dettwyler, K.A. 2013
Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. 20th Anniversary Edition. Two additional chapters. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2011 Cultural Anthropology & Human Experience: The Feast of Life. Long Grove, IL: Waveland
Press.
Dettwyler, K.A., and Vaughn M. Bryant (co-editors) 2003 Reflections on Anthropology: A Four-Field Reader. New York:
McGraw-Hill. [Wrote one selection, chose others, wrote pedagogy, discussion questions, instructor's manual, test guide, and website content]
Stuart-Macadam, Patricia, and K.A. Dettwyler (co-editors) 1995 Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. [Wrote two chapters, and edited six others; chapters were sent out for peer review.] Now available from Transaction Publishers.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. Winner of the 1995 Margaret Mead Award from the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology. [Various chapters have been excerpted numerous times in collections of readings].
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Dettwyler, Katherine A. 2004 When to Wean: Biological Versus Cultural Perspectives. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 47(3):712-723.
Bentley, M.E., K.A. Dettwyler, and L.E. Caulfield 1997 Anorexia Infantil y su Tratamiento en Niños de Paises en Vías de Desarrollo: Revisión y Recomendaciones [Child Anorexia and Its Management in Developing Country Settings: Review and Recommendations]. Nutrición y alimentación del niño en los primeros años de vida. Washington, D.C.:
Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud/Organizacion Mundial de la Salud.
Ro, Hee-Kyung, and K.A. Dettwyler 1995 Comparisons of Infant Feeding Patterns Among Koreans Living in Texas, USA and Local Populations. Korean Journal of Nutrition 28(7):636-643.
Dettwyler, K.A., and C. Fishman 1992 Infant Feeding Practices and Growth. Annual Review of Anthropology 21:171-204.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 The Biocultural Approach in Nutritional Anthropology: Case Studies of Malnutrition in Mali.
Medical Anthropology 15:17-39.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 Nutritional Status of Adults in Rural Mali. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 88(3):309-321. 4
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Growth Status of Children in Rural Mali: Implications for Nutrition Education Programs. American
Journal of Human Biology 3(5):447-462.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Can Paleopathology Provide Evidence for "Compassion"? American Journal of Physical Anthropology 84(4):375-384. (Lead article).
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children.
American Anthropologist 91(3):696-703. September 1989.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 The Interaction of Anorexia and Cultural Beliefs in Infant Malnutrition in Mali. American
Journal of Human Biology 1(6):683-695.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 More than Nutrition: Breastfeeding in Urban Mali. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 2(2):172-183. [Reprinted in Nutritional Anthropology: Biocultural Perspective on Food and Nutrition, Alan H. Goodman,
Darna Dufour, and Gretel Pelto eds., 1999].
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Breastfeeding and Weaning in Mali: Cultural Context and Hard Data. Social Science and Medicine 24(8):633-644.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Infant Feeding in Mali, West Africa: Variations in Belief and Practice. Social
Science and Medicine 23(7):651-664.
Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 A Time to Wean: The Hominid Blueprint for the Natural Age of Weaning In Modern Human Populations. In Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, edited by Patricia Stuart-Macadam and Katherine A. Dettwyler, pp. 39-73. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 Beauty and the Breast: The Cultural Context of Breastfeeding in the United States. In Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, edited by Patricia Stuart-Macadam and Katherine A. Dettwyler, pp. 167-215. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Non-peer-reviewed publications
Dettwyler, K.A. 2014 – present. "Inside the Mind of Kathy Dettwyler." Website. http://www.kathydettwyler.weebly.com
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Weaning. Breastfeeding Annual 2001. Washington DC: Platypus Media.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Believing in Breastfeeding. ORGYN, March 2001.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Instructor's Manual to Accompany Christopher DeCorse's The Record of the Past. NJ: Prentice Hall.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1999 Evolutionary Medicine and Breastfeeding: Implications for Research and Pediatric Advice. The 1998-99 David Skomp Distinguished Lecture in Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.
Dettwyler, K.A., and I.C. Liles 1997 Promoting Breastfeeding, Promoting Guilt? In Conference Papers, Breastfeeding: The Natural Advantage. Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia. Sydney: Australia. Pp.
47-55. 5
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 Throwing a Curve at Growth Charts. In Conference Papers, Breastfeeding: The Natural Advantage. Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia. Sydney: Australia. Pp.
56-61.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 When to Wean. Natural History, 106(9):49.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 Brain Teasers. Outreaching: Perinatal News and Views (Munson Medical Center, Traverse, Michigan), Summer 1997, p. 5.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 Foreword. In Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift by Pamela K. Wiggins. Virginia: L. A. Publishing Co.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 A Time to Wean. Breastfeeding Abstracts, August 1994. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League International.
Dettwyler, K.A. 199 to 2014. Web page, www.kathydettwyler.org "Thoughts on Breastfeeding." No longer updated.
Contract/consulting reports (1989-90, 2013 available upon request)
Book reviews (available upon request)
Papers presented at anthropology conferences
Dettwyler, K.A. 2002 "Bogin’s Concept of "Childhood" as a New and Unique Stage of Human Life History: Biological Reality, Secular Trend, or Cultural Artifact?" 2002 Council on Nutritional Anthropology, Distinguished Speaker, Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 22.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2000 "Breastfeeding Beyond Three Years in the United States: Method, Theory, and Implications for Public Health." Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, California, November 18.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1999 Discussant for Dr. Lori Wright's panel on paleonutrition, Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Columbus, Ohio, May 1.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 "Breastfeeding in Evolutionary Perspective." Presented at the Biocultural Perspectives on Childhood Health and Adaptability Symposium, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, November. One of eight invited participants.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 "Applying Research on Breastfeeding and Weaning to Questions of Pediatric Advice, Child Abuse Accusations, and Child Custody Issues." Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Baltimore, Maryland, March 28.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 "Breastfeeding in Evolutionary Perspective." Presented at an invited symposium of the Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, DC, November, 1995. I was the chair and co-organizer of this symposium, which was sponsored by the Council on Nutritional Anthropology.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 "The Hominid Blueprint for Modern Human Breastfeeding Behavior." Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Denver, Colorado, March. 6
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 "'Children Don't Need Good Food': Differential Access to Resources in Rural Mali." Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, California, December.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 Weight and stature of peri-urban and rural Malian children from birth to five years [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 14:70-71.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Determinants of Breastfeeding: Considerations of the Wider Cultural Context [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 The Use of Weight-for-Height as an Indicator of Nutritional Status in Community and Individual Assessments [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 12:67-68.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1990 Traditional Perceptions of Malnutrition in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1990 Growth of Peri-urban Children in Mali: A Follow-up Study. Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Miami, Florida, April 4-7, 1990. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 Evidence for Compassion in the Archeological Record? [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 78(2):212.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 Intimacy and Indulgence: The Lack of Weaning Trauma in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Growth and Development of Infants in West Africa: The Effects of Anorexia and Infant Feeding Patterns." Fifth International Auxology Congress, Exeter University, England.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Growth and Development of Infants in West Africa: The Effects of Anorexia and Infant Feeding Patterns." Meeting of the Society for the Study of Human Biology, Oxford University, England, July 18-19, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Two More Bites of Lima Beans: Maternal Control of Food Consumption in Infants and Young Children." Meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society, Washington, DC, May 27-29, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 The Interaction of Anorexia and Cultural Beliefs in Infant Malnutrition in Mali [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 75(2):203-204.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Determinants of Food Consumption in Young Children." Meeting of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, El Paso, Texas, February 18-21, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Birth Spacing in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Socio-cultural Malnutrition: Three Case Studies from Mali [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 72(2):194.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Breastfeeding in Mali: More Than Nutrition [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Maternal Attitude As a Factor in Infant Feeding and Growth [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 69(2):193-194.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1984 Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices in Mali and their Effects on Growth and Development [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Professional and service activity:
University of Delaware
Supervising professor, Freshmen Year Experience seminar, 2008-2009
Millersville University
Department Representative to APSCUF (union), 2004-2005
Texas A&M (Department Level)
Member, Search Committee for new Department Head (1998-99)
Curriculum Committee (1987-88, Fall 1993-Spring 1995)
Chair of Curriculum Committee (Fall 1988, Fall 1993-Spring
1995)
Executive Committee (1990-1993, 1995-1996, 1996-1997)
Faculty Search Committee (1988-89, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96)
Faculty Advisor, "Aggie Anthropologists" (1992)
Chair of United Way Drive (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994)
Texas A&M (College Level)
Curriculum Committee, College of Liberal Arts. Elected by department faculty, Member 1999-2000
Academic Standards Committee, College of Liberal Arts, Appointed by the Dean, Member 1998-1999, Chair 1999-2000
Women's Studies Program Review Committee (1988-1994)
Academic Resources Committee (1988-1991)
Dean's Advisory Committee to select a new head of the Women's Studies Program (spring 1992, spring 1993)
Review Committee to evaluate Associate Dean Charles A. Johnson (1991)
Texas A&M (University Level)
1992-2000 Faculty Mentor in the "Leadership in Medicine" program, mentor to second year medical students
1993-1996 Member of the Faculty Senate, representing the College of Liberal Arts, member of the Academic Affairs Committee, the By-Laws Committee, and the Status of Women on Campus Committee
1988 to 1990: One of six core faculty members of NSF-funded project "Beyond the Large Farm" (Dr. Paul Thompson and Dr. Bill Stout, Principal Investigators)--participated in monthly core group meetings, four symposia sponsored by the project, and a final symposium at the AAAS meetings in New Orleans
Faculty Advisor, "Pro-Choice Aggies" (1989-91)
Membership in Scholarly Societies:
American Association of Physical Anthropologists
American Anthropological Association
Council on Nutritional Anthropology
National Union of the Women of Mali
Phi Kappa Phi (Honor Society)
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Service to Scholarly Societies:
Member, Nominations Committee, Council on Biological Anthropology (1997-1999)
Chair, Policy and Liaison Committee, Council on Nutritional Anthropology (1991-1993)
Presented a workshop on "Anthropometric Measures of Nutritional Status," at the Meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society, College Station, Texas, June 1989
Presented a workshop on "Anthropometric Measures of Nutritional Status," at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 1990. Sponsored by the Council on Nutritional Anthropology
Organized and chaired a session titled "Infant Feeding: Beyond the Breast/Bottle Controversy," at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 1986
Grant reviewer for funding agencies:
Wenner-Gren (2002-2005)
Donner Foundation
MONTS/NSF EPSCoR Program
National Academy of Sciences/Agency for International Development (UNDP Program)
National Science Foundation
Thrasher Foundation
Editorial services to scholarly publications:
Manuscript reviewer for
Africa
American Journal of Human Biology
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Annals of Human Biology
Current Anthropology
Ecology of Food and Nutrition
Human Biology
Human Organization
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
Journal of Human Lactation
Man, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Medical Anthropology
Medical Anthropology Quarterly
Social Science and Medicine
McGraw-Hill [Cultural Anthropology, 12th edition, by Conrad Kottak, 2008
Allyn & Bacon [Cultural Anthropology, 4 th edition, by Barbara Miller, 2007
Mayfield Press [collected readings in nutritional anthropology, introductory textbook in general anthropology, revisions of introductory textbook in physical anthropology]
Waveland Press [collected readings in narrative ethnography and fieldwork experiences, introductory texts in general anthropology and cultural anthropology, Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway, 2007] West Publishing Company [introductory textbook in physical anthropology]
Yale University Press [book on human variation and racism]
Member of the editorial board for Annual Editions: Physical Anthropology (until 2004)
Reader, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Melbourne (2006)
Prentice-Hall [Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials, by Stanford/Allen/Anton, 2008
Biological Anthropology: A Synthetic Approach to Human Evolution, 2nd edition by Boaz and Almquist, 2001
Westview Publishing Company [book on westward emigrants and human biology]
Fellowship and research grants:
2013 Grant from the State of Delaware to conduct research on the Delaware State Hospital Spiral Cemetery.
1997 Faculty Development Grant. Continued work on third book.
1991 TAES/Liberal Arts Research Initiative ($12,000). In collaboration with Dr. Lupton (TAMU Department of Animal Science/Scientific Nutrition) and Dr. Witcher (TAMU Agricultural Extension Service). "Development of a Culturally Sensitive Weight Reduction Program - The Texas Weigh." Developing a weight-reduction program, to be based on survey and interview data, specifically tailored to fit the values and lifestyles of rural Texans.
1989 Fulbright Scholar Award for Research ($24,475). "Growth Monitoring and Infant Nutrition in Mali." I conducted fieldwork in Mali (West Africa) on growth and development (birth through adulthood), nutritional status, infant feeding practices, traditional perceptions of malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, and parasite loads. This research involved taking a series of anthropometric measurements on more than 2500 individuals, collecting 68 stool and urine specimens, and conducting ethnographic research. This grant was augmented by research expense grants from the College of Liberal Arts ($1,000) and the Department of Anthropology ($1,000).
1988 TAMU College of Liberal Arts, Faculty Research Award ($6,000 salary, plus $1,000 expenses). Summer research award to work on book The Anthropology of Infant and Child Feeding: Strategies for Research. [NOTE: Approximately two-thirds of the book manuscript was completed during the summer of 1988. A head injury sustained in a bicycle accident at the end of the summer erased all my memory of working on this manuscript and I never completed the manuscript.]
1987 National Endowment for the Humanities ($3,500) Summer Seminar for College Teachers, "Anthropology of Food and Foodways," University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Dr. Ravindra Khare, Director.
1984 David C. Skomp Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology. Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington.
1981 Doctoral Student Grant-In-Aid of Research ($200) Graduate School, Indiana University, Bloomington.
1981 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research ($200)
1977 Graduate Fellowship, Graduate School. Indiana University, Bloomington.
[email protected]
Degrees received:
Ph.D. 1985 Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Breastfeeding, Weaning, and Other Infant Feeding Practices in Mali and Their Effects on Growth and Development
M.A. 1981 Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington
B.S. 1977 Anthropology, University of California, Davis
History of employment:
2005-2017 Associate Professor, Supplemental Faculty, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
FIRED FOR AN OPINION I POSTED TO MY OWN FACEBOOK PAGE, AND WAS ATTACKED BY NAZI/WHITE SUPREMACISTS . . . BUT WHATEVER . . . . .
2004-2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Millersville Univ., Millersville, PA
2002-2004 Assistant to the Executive Director, American Philosophical Association, Newark, DE
Fall 2001 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology & Women's Studies Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Fall 2001 Focus Group Facilitator, Center for Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
2002-present [Honorary] Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
1993-2002 Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Anthropology, and member of the Faculty in Nutrition, Texas A&M University
1987-1993 Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, and member of the Graduate Faculty in Nutrition, Texas A&M University
1994 Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY, October, 1994
1985-1987 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Research interests:
Medical anthropology/Evolutionary medicine
Nutritional anthropology
Infant/child feeding practices (cross-cultural and
evolutionary perspectives on breastfeeding, weaning, and solids)
Growth and development
Research methodology
Ethical/philosophical issues in anthropology and medicine
History of Delaware State (Mental) Hospital in the late 1800s and early 1900s
Courses qualified to teach:
Introduction to Anthropology/People, Primates, and Prehistory (4-field)
Introduction to Physical/Biological Anthropology
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology and Human Nature
Medical Anthropology/Evolutionary Medicine
Nutritional Anthropology
Modern Human Variation and Adaptation
Growth and Development/Anthropometry
Peoples and Cultures of the World
Peoples and Cultures of Africa
Classic Ethnographies
Women and Culture (focus on biology and reproduction)
Male/Female
Evolutionary and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Childbirth and Childrearing
Evolution of Human Sex Roles and Reproduction
Women and Health
Research Methods and Ethics in Anthropology
Honors and special recognition
2011 One of the experts interviewed for the documentary film by C.M. Hardt, "Mothers’ Milk – The Original Food"
2007 La Leche League International Award of Recognition
2005 One of the experts interviewed for the documentary film by Francine Strickwerda and Laurel Spellman Smith, "Busting Out"
2001 Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, from Texas A&M University in conjunction with the Association of Former Students
1995 Margaret Mead Award of the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology for Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa
2000 "Fish Camp" (new student orientation) named in my honor
1998-2003 Member of the Health Advisory Board of the Professional Advisory Council of La Leche League International, invited position
1998 Invited to give the annual Skomp Lecture in Anthropology at Indiana University, Bloomington (first time an alumnus was invited to give this lecture)
1998 One of three women profiled in Carolyn Latteier's book Breasts: The Women's Perspective on an American Obsession
1997 Nominated for the W. W. Howells prize in Biological Anthropology for Dancing Skeletons
1994 Nominated for the Victor Turner prize in humanistic anthropology for Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. Also nominated in 1995.
1992 & 1994 Commendation from the Texas Department of Health "For devotion to infant health through the promotion and support of breastfeeding"
1988 Listed in the International Directory of Anthropologists and Social Scientists Concerned with Food and Nutrition
1977 B.S. in Anthropology, Highest Honors, University of California, Davis
Record of publications:
Books
Dettwyler, K.A. 2013
Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. 20th Anniversary Edition. Two additional chapters. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2011 Cultural Anthropology & Human Experience: The Feast of Life. Long Grove, IL: Waveland
Press.
Dettwyler, K.A., and Vaughn M. Bryant (co-editors) 2003 Reflections on Anthropology: A Four-Field Reader. New York:
McGraw-Hill. [Wrote one selection, chose others, wrote pedagogy, discussion questions, instructor's manual, test guide, and website content]
Stuart-Macadam, Patricia, and K.A. Dettwyler (co-editors) 1995 Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. [Wrote two chapters, and edited six others; chapters were sent out for peer review.] Now available from Transaction Publishers.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. Winner of the 1995 Margaret Mead Award from the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology. [Various chapters have been excerpted numerous times in collections of readings].
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Dettwyler, Katherine A. 2004 When to Wean: Biological Versus Cultural Perspectives. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 47(3):712-723.
Bentley, M.E., K.A. Dettwyler, and L.E. Caulfield 1997 Anorexia Infantil y su Tratamiento en Niños de Paises en Vías de Desarrollo: Revisión y Recomendaciones [Child Anorexia and Its Management in Developing Country Settings: Review and Recommendations]. Nutrición y alimentación del niño en los primeros años de vida. Washington, D.C.:
Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud/Organizacion Mundial de la Salud.
Ro, Hee-Kyung, and K.A. Dettwyler 1995 Comparisons of Infant Feeding Patterns Among Koreans Living in Texas, USA and Local Populations. Korean Journal of Nutrition 28(7):636-643.
Dettwyler, K.A., and C. Fishman 1992 Infant Feeding Practices and Growth. Annual Review of Anthropology 21:171-204.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 The Biocultural Approach in Nutritional Anthropology: Case Studies of Malnutrition in Mali.
Medical Anthropology 15:17-39.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 Nutritional Status of Adults in Rural Mali. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 88(3):309-321. 4
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Growth Status of Children in Rural Mali: Implications for Nutrition Education Programs. American
Journal of Human Biology 3(5):447-462.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Can Paleopathology Provide Evidence for "Compassion"? American Journal of Physical Anthropology 84(4):375-384. (Lead article).
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children.
American Anthropologist 91(3):696-703. September 1989.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 The Interaction of Anorexia and Cultural Beliefs in Infant Malnutrition in Mali. American
Journal of Human Biology 1(6):683-695.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 More than Nutrition: Breastfeeding in Urban Mali. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 2(2):172-183. [Reprinted in Nutritional Anthropology: Biocultural Perspective on Food and Nutrition, Alan H. Goodman,
Darna Dufour, and Gretel Pelto eds., 1999].
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Breastfeeding and Weaning in Mali: Cultural Context and Hard Data. Social Science and Medicine 24(8):633-644.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Infant Feeding in Mali, West Africa: Variations in Belief and Practice. Social
Science and Medicine 23(7):651-664.
Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 A Time to Wean: The Hominid Blueprint for the Natural Age of Weaning In Modern Human Populations. In Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, edited by Patricia Stuart-Macadam and Katherine A. Dettwyler, pp. 39-73. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 Beauty and the Breast: The Cultural Context of Breastfeeding in the United States. In Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, edited by Patricia Stuart-Macadam and Katherine A. Dettwyler, pp. 167-215. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Non-peer-reviewed publications
Dettwyler, K.A. 2014 – present. "Inside the Mind of Kathy Dettwyler." Website. http://www.kathydettwyler.weebly.com
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Weaning. Breastfeeding Annual 2001. Washington DC: Platypus Media.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Believing in Breastfeeding. ORGYN, March 2001.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2001 Instructor's Manual to Accompany Christopher DeCorse's The Record of the Past. NJ: Prentice Hall.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1999 Evolutionary Medicine and Breastfeeding: Implications for Research and Pediatric Advice. The 1998-99 David Skomp Distinguished Lecture in Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.
Dettwyler, K.A., and I.C. Liles 1997 Promoting Breastfeeding, Promoting Guilt? In Conference Papers, Breastfeeding: The Natural Advantage. Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia. Sydney: Australia. Pp.
47-55. 5
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 Throwing a Curve at Growth Charts. In Conference Papers, Breastfeeding: The Natural Advantage. Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia. Sydney: Australia. Pp.
56-61.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 When to Wean. Natural History, 106(9):49.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1997 Brain Teasers. Outreaching: Perinatal News and Views (Munson Medical Center, Traverse, Michigan), Summer 1997, p. 5.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 Foreword. In Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift by Pamela K. Wiggins. Virginia: L. A. Publishing Co.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 A Time to Wean. Breastfeeding Abstracts, August 1994. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League International.
Dettwyler, K.A. 199 to 2014. Web page, www.kathydettwyler.org "Thoughts on Breastfeeding." No longer updated.
Contract/consulting reports (1989-90, 2013 available upon request)
Book reviews (available upon request)
Papers presented at anthropology conferences
Dettwyler, K.A. 2002 "Bogin’s Concept of "Childhood" as a New and Unique Stage of Human Life History: Biological Reality, Secular Trend, or Cultural Artifact?" 2002 Council on Nutritional Anthropology, Distinguished Speaker, Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 22.
Dettwyler, K.A. 2000 "Breastfeeding Beyond Three Years in the United States: Method, Theory, and Implications for Public Health." Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, California, November 18.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1999 Discussant for Dr. Lori Wright's panel on paleonutrition, Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Columbus, Ohio, May 1.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 "Breastfeeding in Evolutionary Perspective." Presented at the Biocultural Perspectives on Childhood Health and Adaptability Symposium, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, November. One of eight invited participants.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1996 "Applying Research on Breastfeeding and Weaning to Questions of Pediatric Advice, Child Abuse Accusations, and Child Custody Issues." Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Baltimore, Maryland, March 28.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1995 "Breastfeeding in Evolutionary Perspective." Presented at an invited symposium of the Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, DC, November, 1995. I was the chair and co-organizer of this symposium, which was sponsored by the Council on Nutritional Anthropology.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1994 "The Hominid Blueprint for Modern Human Breastfeeding Behavior." Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Denver, Colorado, March. 6
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 "'Children Don't Need Good Food': Differential Access to Resources in Rural Mali." Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, California, December.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1992 Weight and stature of peri-urban and rural Malian children from birth to five years [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 14:70-71.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 Determinants of Breastfeeding: Considerations of the Wider Cultural Context [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1991 The Use of Weight-for-Height as an Indicator of Nutritional Status in Community and Individual Assessments [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 12:67-68.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1990 Traditional Perceptions of Malnutrition in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1990 Growth of Peri-urban Children in Mali: A Follow-up Study. Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Miami, Florida, April 4-7, 1990. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1989 Evidence for Compassion in the Archeological Record? [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 78(2):212.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 Intimacy and Indulgence: The Lack of Weaning Trauma in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Growth and Development of Infants in West Africa: The Effects of Anorexia and Infant Feeding Patterns." Fifth International Auxology Congress, Exeter University, England.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Growth and Development of Infants in West Africa: The Effects of Anorexia and Infant Feeding Patterns." Meeting of the Society for the Study of Human Biology, Oxford University, England, July 18-19, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Two More Bites of Lima Beans: Maternal Control of Food Consumption in Infants and Young Children." Meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society, Washington, DC, May 27-29, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 The Interaction of Anorexia and Cultural Beliefs in Infant Malnutrition in Mali [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 75(2):203-204.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1988 "Determinants of Food Consumption in Young Children." Meeting of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, El Paso, Texas, February 18-21, 1988.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Birth Spacing in Mali [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1987 Socio-cultural Malnutrition: Three Case Studies from Mali [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 72(2):194.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Breastfeeding in Mali: More Than Nutrition [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1986 Maternal Attitude As a Factor in Infant Feeding and Growth [abs.]: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 69(2):193-194.
Dettwyler, K.A. 1984 Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices in Mali and their Effects on Growth and Development [abs.]: American Anthropological Association Abstracts.
Professional and service activity:
University of Delaware
Supervising professor, Freshmen Year Experience seminar, 2008-2009
Millersville University
Department Representative to APSCUF (union), 2004-2005
Texas A&M (Department Level)
Member, Search Committee for new Department Head (1998-99)
Curriculum Committee (1987-88, Fall 1993-Spring 1995)
Chair of Curriculum Committee (Fall 1988, Fall 1993-Spring
1995)
Executive Committee (1990-1993, 1995-1996, 1996-1997)
Faculty Search Committee (1988-89, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96)
Faculty Advisor, "Aggie Anthropologists" (1992)
Chair of United Way Drive (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994)
Texas A&M (College Level)
Curriculum Committee, College of Liberal Arts. Elected by department faculty, Member 1999-2000
Academic Standards Committee, College of Liberal Arts, Appointed by the Dean, Member 1998-1999, Chair 1999-2000
Women's Studies Program Review Committee (1988-1994)
Academic Resources Committee (1988-1991)
Dean's Advisory Committee to select a new head of the Women's Studies Program (spring 1992, spring 1993)
Review Committee to evaluate Associate Dean Charles A. Johnson (1991)
Texas A&M (University Level)
1992-2000 Faculty Mentor in the "Leadership in Medicine" program, mentor to second year medical students
1993-1996 Member of the Faculty Senate, representing the College of Liberal Arts, member of the Academic Affairs Committee, the By-Laws Committee, and the Status of Women on Campus Committee
1988 to 1990: One of six core faculty members of NSF-funded project "Beyond the Large Farm" (Dr. Paul Thompson and Dr. Bill Stout, Principal Investigators)--participated in monthly core group meetings, four symposia sponsored by the project, and a final symposium at the AAAS meetings in New Orleans
Faculty Advisor, "Pro-Choice Aggies" (1989-91)
Membership in Scholarly Societies:
American Association of Physical Anthropologists
American Anthropological Association
Council on Nutritional Anthropology
National Union of the Women of Mali
Phi Kappa Phi (Honor Society)
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Service to Scholarly Societies:
Member, Nominations Committee, Council on Biological Anthropology (1997-1999)
Chair, Policy and Liaison Committee, Council on Nutritional Anthropology (1991-1993)
Presented a workshop on "Anthropometric Measures of Nutritional Status," at the Meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society, College Station, Texas, June 1989
Presented a workshop on "Anthropometric Measures of Nutritional Status," at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 1990. Sponsored by the Council on Nutritional Anthropology
Organized and chaired a session titled "Infant Feeding: Beyond the Breast/Bottle Controversy," at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 1986
Grant reviewer for funding agencies:
Wenner-Gren (2002-2005)
Donner Foundation
MONTS/NSF EPSCoR Program
National Academy of Sciences/Agency for International Development (UNDP Program)
National Science Foundation
Thrasher Foundation
Editorial services to scholarly publications:
Manuscript reviewer for
Africa
American Journal of Human Biology
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Annals of Human Biology
Current Anthropology
Ecology of Food and Nutrition
Human Biology
Human Organization
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
Journal of Human Lactation
Man, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Medical Anthropology
Medical Anthropology Quarterly
Social Science and Medicine
McGraw-Hill [Cultural Anthropology, 12th edition, by Conrad Kottak, 2008
Allyn & Bacon [Cultural Anthropology, 4 th edition, by Barbara Miller, 2007
Mayfield Press [collected readings in nutritional anthropology, introductory textbook in general anthropology, revisions of introductory textbook in physical anthropology]
Waveland Press [collected readings in narrative ethnography and fieldwork experiences, introductory texts in general anthropology and cultural anthropology, Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway, 2007] West Publishing Company [introductory textbook in physical anthropology]
Yale University Press [book on human variation and racism]
Member of the editorial board for Annual Editions: Physical Anthropology (until 2004)
Reader, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Melbourne (2006)
Prentice-Hall [Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials, by Stanford/Allen/Anton, 2008
Biological Anthropology: A Synthetic Approach to Human Evolution, 2nd edition by Boaz and Almquist, 2001
Westview Publishing Company [book on westward emigrants and human biology]
Fellowship and research grants:
2013 Grant from the State of Delaware to conduct research on the Delaware State Hospital Spiral Cemetery.
1997 Faculty Development Grant. Continued work on third book.
1991 TAES/Liberal Arts Research Initiative ($12,000). In collaboration with Dr. Lupton (TAMU Department of Animal Science/Scientific Nutrition) and Dr. Witcher (TAMU Agricultural Extension Service). "Development of a Culturally Sensitive Weight Reduction Program - The Texas Weigh." Developing a weight-reduction program, to be based on survey and interview data, specifically tailored to fit the values and lifestyles of rural Texans.
1989 Fulbright Scholar Award for Research ($24,475). "Growth Monitoring and Infant Nutrition in Mali." I conducted fieldwork in Mali (West Africa) on growth and development (birth through adulthood), nutritional status, infant feeding practices, traditional perceptions of malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, and parasite loads. This research involved taking a series of anthropometric measurements on more than 2500 individuals, collecting 68 stool and urine specimens, and conducting ethnographic research. This grant was augmented by research expense grants from the College of Liberal Arts ($1,000) and the Department of Anthropology ($1,000).
1988 TAMU College of Liberal Arts, Faculty Research Award ($6,000 salary, plus $1,000 expenses). Summer research award to work on book The Anthropology of Infant and Child Feeding: Strategies for Research. [NOTE: Approximately two-thirds of the book manuscript was completed during the summer of 1988. A head injury sustained in a bicycle accident at the end of the summer erased all my memory of working on this manuscript and I never completed the manuscript.]
1987 National Endowment for the Humanities ($3,500) Summer Seminar for College Teachers, "Anthropology of Food and Foodways," University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Dr. Ravindra Khare, Director.
1984 David C. Skomp Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology. Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington.
1981 Doctoral Student Grant-In-Aid of Research ($200) Graduate School, Indiana University, Bloomington.
1981 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research ($200)
1977 Graduate Fellowship, Graduate School. Indiana University, Bloomington.
