Technical Communication Quarterly Jan 2021

The Rhetoric of Online Exclusive Pumping Communities: Tactical Technical Communication as Eschewing Judgment

Jessica McCaughey George Washington University

Abstract

ABSTRACT “Exclusive Pumping” straddles the most common infant-feeding methods: breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Exclusive pumpers express milk and feed with bottles. Yet experts rarely recommend exclusive pumping, creating a need for information outside of formal communication outlets. This article argues that exclusive pumping forums are sites of tactical technical communication – operating as “anti-institutional” – and explores these forums as places of inspiration and support, as well as spaces where mothers seek to solve technical feeding problems while avoiding institutional judgment.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2021-01-02
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2020.1823485
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Topics
rhetorical criticism technical communication
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (9)

  1. Shirley et al. (2025)
    Farm to Forum: Exploring Agritourism as a Site for Tactical Technical Communication
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  2. Littlefield (2025)
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    A Memetic Pandemic: COVID-19 Memes As Tactical Risk Communication
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Show all 9 →
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    Emojination Facilitates Inclusive Emoji Design Through Technical Writing: Fitti…
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  2. Campeau (2023)
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  3. Campeau (2022)
    Vaccination Double Bind: A Study of Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making
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CrossRef global citation count: 13 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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