Katherine Ann Dettwyler facts for kids

Katherine Ann Dettwyler is an American anthropologist. She is well-known for her research and support of breastfeeding. She used to be a professor at the University of Delaware. In 2017, she received media attention for comments she made about Otto Warmbier. He was a 22-year-old college student who suffered serious brain damage while held in North Korea.

Early Life and Education

Katherine Ann Dettwyler was born on February 3, 1955. She studied anthropology at college. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis, in 1977. Later, she received her master's degree and Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington in 1981 and 1985.

Her Career as a Professor

Dr. Dettwyler taught at several universities. From 1985 to 1987, she was a visiting professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. Then, she taught anthropology at Texas A&M University from 1987 until 2000. She retired early from her tenured position there. After moving to Delaware, she taught part-time at the University of Delaware. She also continued to write and speak at conferences.

During the 1990s, she worked as a nutrition expert. She helped organizations provide nutrition education in Mali. She also did research there. Today, Dr. Dettwyler is listed as an "Independent Scholar." This means she works on her own research.

Research on Breastfeeding

Dr. Dettwyler is famous for her studies on how long humans naturally breastfeed. She compares this to other mammals, especially primates like monkeys. Her research suggests that the natural age for weaning (stopping breastfeeding) in humans is between 2½ and 7 years old. She figured this out by looking at factors like weight gain, how long babies are in the womb, and when their teeth grow in.

Personal Life

Kathy Dettwyler is married to Steven Dettwyler, who also has a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology. They have three children together. In 1999, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Comments on Otto Warmbier's Case

In June 2017, Dr. Dettwyler's comments about Otto Warmbier gained a lot of media attention. Otto Warmbier was an American college student. He was visiting North Korea when he was arrested. He was accused of trying to steal a poster. He was sentenced to hard labor. However, he was released and sent back to the United States about a year and a half later. He returned in a coma and sadly died soon after.

Dr. Dettwyler wrote about the case on her personal Facebook page. She also commented on an article in the National Review. Her comments caused a lot of controversy. The University of Delaware announced that her teaching contract would not be renewed. This decision was made after her comments became public.