Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears

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Posted by Amy C on September 07, 1999 at 23:45:42:

In Reply to: A way of expressing hopes and fears posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on September 07, 1999 at 03:51:56:

: When women are excluded from participation in the
main
: religion (can't be priests, rabbis, imams, mullahs...whatever)
women
: tend to develop things of their own to extablish some sense of power
: over their own lives and address their own needs, plead to the
: deities their own grievances....they do little things to insure
: fertility, the health of their children, their economic security,
: their marital security.....they henna, they embroider, they weave,
: they make mandanas, they maintain houwehold altars, they participate
: in Zars, they wear talismanic jewelery....a thousand things....to
: feel more in charge of their own destiny.

And can you think of any more appropriate place for this sort of
assertion of female power than in a hospital where predominantly men
(although, thankfully that's changed a lot) tend to want to take
control of the birth process, execute policy & procedure written
largely by men and even decide when it is appropriate for them to
reach into your vagina? Even if done on a subconscious level, I think
the draping of these textiles around the room and around the bed did
make us (hospital staff) conscious of when we were entering HER space.
The fact that they were so "girly" (with fringes & sparklies) in
particular asserted the fact that you were crossing a boundary into a
female realm, not only physically but also socially and spiritually.
One did feel a bit like an intruder entering that room (with one's
mechanical blood pressure cuff or sonogram machine or whatever in
tow). I wonder if this 'feminist statement' ever entered the
conscious minds of male doctors who cared for her. Or if they only
felt uneasy going in there, without thinking about why.

I find that many hospital staff members are not comfortable with women
who want to control their own births. Part of it is that we think we
know something they don't about what's best/safest (sometimes true).
But part is also that we expect them to accept being disempowered by
our authority. Ironic when you consider that it is usually the most
powerful act of a woman's life.

When do I collect my second place ribbon for most off-topic posting?
(First place goes to the discussion of hot sauces & tamales from many
months ago.)

Sorry for the rant.

Follow-ups:

Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears Maria 22:27:23 9/08/99 (0)
Reclaiming pregnancy/birth Anon 17:20:02 9/08/99 (2)
- everyone Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:14:35 9/08/99 (1)
  - Re: everyone Becky M. 19:41:14 9/08/99 (0)
Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears SeeSee 01:53:11 9/08/99 (1)
- Shit. Last again. (NM) Amy C 17:35:24 9/09/99 (0)

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: : : When women are excluded from participation in the : main : : religion (can't be priests, rabbis, imams, mullahs...whatever) : women : : tend to develop things of their own to extablish some sense of power : : over their own lives and address their own needs, plead to the : : deities their own grievances....they do little things to insure : : fertility, the health of their children, their economic security, : : their marital security.....they henna, they embroider, they weave, : : they make mandanas, they maintain houwehold altars, they participate : : in Zars, they wear talismanic jewelery....a thousand things....to : : feel more in charge of their own destiny. : And can you think of any more appropriate place for this sort of : assertion of female power than in a hospital where predominantly men : (although, thankfully that's changed a lot) tend to want to take : control of the birth process, execute policy & procedure written : largely by men and even decide when it is appropriate for them to : reach into your vagina? Even if done on a subconscious level, I think : the draping of these textiles around the room and around the bed did : make us (hospital staff) conscious of when we were entering HER space. : The fact that they were so "girly" (with fringes & sparklies) in : particular asserted the fact that you were crossing a boundary into a : female realm, not only physically but also socially and spiritually. : One did feel a bit like an intruder entering that room (with one's : mechanical blood pressure cuff or sonogram machine or whatever in : tow). I wonder if this 'feminist statement' ever entered the : conscious minds of male doctors who cared for her. Or if they only : felt uneasy going in there, without thinking about why. : I find that many hospital staff members are not comfortable with women : who want to control their own births. Part of it is that we think we : know something they don't about what's best/safest (sometimes true). : But part is also that we expect them to accept being disempowered by : our authority. Ironic when you consider that it is usually the most : powerful act of a woman's life. : When do I collect my second place ribbon for most off-topic posting? : (First place goes to the discussion of hot sauces & tamales from many : months ago.) : Sorry for the rant.

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