From Women’s Sacrifice to Feminist Sacrifice: Medicalized Birth and “Natural” Birth versus Woman-Centered Birth

Abstract The concept of sacrifice poses an interesting challenge to feminist theory. On the one hand, it seems that women must reject self-sacrificing practices. On the other hand, certain recent feminist analyses have recognized sacrifice as a potential empowering tool for women, so long as it is f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kohen Shaboṭ, Śarah 1972- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2022
In: Interdisciplinary journal for religion and transformation in contemporary society
Year: 2022, Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Pages: 416-434
Further subjects:B Essentialism
B natural birth
B Sacrifice
B Embodiment
B medicalized childbirth
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Summary:Abstract The concept of sacrifice poses an interesting challenge to feminist theory. On the one hand, it seems that women must reject self-sacrificing practices. On the other hand, certain recent feminist analyses have recognized sacrifice as a potential empowering tool for women, so long as it is freely chosen and experienced as positively transformative. In this paper I argue that it is possible to relate to childbirth either as an event calling for women to sacrifice themselves in the patriarchal sense or, alternatively, as one that allows for a “feminist sacrifice” – a deeply embodied and painful but also creative and redeeming self-sacrifice, chosen by a woman herself. I show that while the patriarchal sacrifice of women’s birthing bodies in the labor room through shame, blame, objectification, and abuse must be clearly rejected from a feminist perspective, there is nevertheless room for “feminist sacrifice” in childbirth.
ISSN:2364-2807
Contains:Enthalten in: Interdisciplinary journal for religion and transformation in contemporary society
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.30965/23642807-bja10060