The undercommons of childbirth and their abolitionist ethic of care: A study into obstetric violence among mothers, midwives (in training), and doulas

van der R. Waal; I. Nistelrooij van; Carlo Leget

doi:10.1177/10778012231205591

The undercommons of childbirth and their abolitionist ethic of care: A study into obstetric violence among mothers, midwives (in training), and doulas

van der R. Waal
, I. Nistelrooij van
, Carlo Leget

Care Ethics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Engaging in dialogue with critical mothers, midwives, midwives in training, and doulas in the Netherlands, this study furthers the theoretical understanding of both obstetric violence and the activist resistance against it. Obstetric violence is understood as part of a process of relational separation, leaving the pregnant person isolated. The activist resistance against it is consequently theorized as the abolitionist building of an alternative "otherworld" of radical relational care. The themes established are: (1) "institutionalized separation" with the subtheme's "expropriation," "carcerality," and "obstetric violence;" and (2) "undercommoning childbirth" with subthemes "fugitive planning," "anarchic relationality," and "obstetric abolition."

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	155-181
Number of pages	27
Journal	Violence Against Women
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012231205591 https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012231205591
Publication status	Published - 6 Dec 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality

Keywords

birth
midwifery
obstetric abolition
obstetric carcerality
obstetric violence

Themes from the UHS research agenda

Care, welfare and flourishing
Justice, diversity and inclusion
Professional ethics, leadership and integrity

Access to Document

10.1177/10778012231205591Licence: CC BY
10.1177/10778012231205591Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

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abstract = "Engaging in dialogue with critical mothers, midwives, midwives in training, and doulas in the Netherlands, this study furthers the theoretical understanding of both obstetric violence and the activist resistance against it. Obstetric violence is understood as part of a process of relational separation, leaving the pregnant person isolated. The activist resistance against it is consequently theorized as the abolitionist building of an alternative {"}otherworld{"} of radical relational care. The themes established are: (1) {"}institutionalized separation{"} with the subtheme's {"}expropriation,{"} {"}carcerality,{"} and {"}obstetric violence;{"} and (2) {"}undercommoning childbirth{"} with subthemes {"}fugitive planning,{"} {"}anarchic relationality,{"} and {"}obstetric abolition.{"}",

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AU - Leget, Carlo

PY - 2023/12/6

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KW - midwifery

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The undercommons of childbirth and their abolitionist ethic of care: A study into obstetric violence among mothers, midwives (in training), and doulas

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Themes from the UHS research agenda

Access to Document

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Cite this