This article offers a sociological analysis of taboos surrounding breast milk and breastfeeding and how these are expressed within a breastfeeding friendly society such as Norway. Two taboos are identified: (1) Giving up breastfeeding ‘too early’ and (2) not giving up breastfeeding ‘in time’. These taboos are explored through the lenses of Mary Douglas and her conceptualization of purity and danger. Attention is particularly drawn to the ways in which the very same substance, a bodily fluid, and a practice changes symbolic character – from pure to impure – when the child reaches a certain age. Both the substance and the practice become ‘matter out of place’ depending on context. The analysis is based on data stemming from ethnographic interviews with mothers; newspaper and magazine articles and photos; internet accounts and blog comments.

本文对围绕母乳和母乳喂养的禁忌以及这些禁忌在像挪威这样的母乳喂养友好社会中的表达方式进行了社会学分析。确定了两个禁忌：（1）“过早”放弃母乳喂养和（2）不“及时”放弃母乳喂养。这些禁忌通过玛丽·道格拉斯的镜头和她对纯洁和危险的概念进行了探索。尤其要注意的是，当孩子达到一定年龄时，完全相同的物质、体液和实践改变象征特征的方式——从纯到不纯。根据上下文，实质和实践都变得“不合时宜”。该分析基于对母亲进行民族志访谈的数据；报纸和杂志文章和照片；互联网帐户和博客评论。