Reclaiming the Body, Birthing at Home: Knowledge, Power, and Control in Childbirth

Abstract

In the following essay I draw on existing literature to suggest that homebirth represents the convergence of knowledge, power, and control during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I pay particular attention to the ways in which working-class women are disadvantaged by the medicalized model of childbirth and are less likely to acquire extensive knowledge about birth, less likely to feel as though they have power over their own birthing experiences, and less likely to exercise control over obstetric interventions and their birth environments. This is a problem that is, on the one hand, caused by a problematic health care system and inadequately staffed public health clinics and, on the other, a model of childbirth that values medicalized birth knowledge over embodied birth knowledge. I argue that all women can and should be made more aware of the various birthing options that are available to them so they can make birthing decisions that are not based solely on fears of obstetric dysfunction. I also encourage birth activists to explore the relationship between social class and birth options so their advocacy efforts can better address women's needs.