Comments on: Birth rights and women of color

By: emjaybee

emjaybee — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:05:49 +0000

Darkdaughta thanks for your response. It’s true that you cannot divorce the current reality for women of color from the history of oppression…nor the reality for all women, for that matter.

I will keep reading and discussing these issues, because they are so important; like a lot of white people, I fear saying the wrong thing or otherwise looking ignorant when it comes to the experiences of people of color, but as I get older, that fear doesn’t hobble me as much.

I will admit that I had not given much thought before to who my clients would be as a midwife; and yes, I mostly pictured them as white, like me. But “reclaiming birth” will hardly be achieved if it only helps white women. I am not sure how many women of color will be able to trust me as a midwife, if my being white will be a barrier; I hope that I can do my best to serve all women.

By: darkdaughta

darkdaughta — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:33:34 +0000

Hey there,
Truth be told, racism has always been understood by women of color as a white people’s issue. The ideas about who we are as individuals and as collectivities are completely grounded in doctrines of white supremacy and white domination that predate Gloria Steinem by many centuries. I write often on my blogsite about black women’s low birth weights, horrific experiences of labour and birth as being a direct consequence of the actions of the ancestors of present day white people, white homebirthers, white midwives et al. This is definitely a conversation that is treated as hands off, which ends up perpetuating the idea of birth in this present wave as being something completely divorced from the fascist state unfolding in present day amerikkka. As a pro-midwifery homebirther who believes in an attachment parenting model and who does extended breastfeeding…my first for three and half years…who knows how long for my second…I’ve been writing posts every few days on my blog for about two years, many of which have been read by sage femme, navelgazer and minority midwife among other midwives including belly tales and rogue midwife. I’m hoping that at some the midwives, especially the white ones will claim this conversation in birthing communities as theirs and from there, that they will allow conversations about race to infuse their work, their blogs and their perceptions.

By: emjaybee

emjaybee — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:32:53 +0000

Thanks NgM. I have been corrected the other way too (not “black” but “African American”) so I tend to let whoever I’m talking to let me know which term they prefer…I’ve had to take things on a case by case basis when it comes to self-descriptors. Another reason I don’t often discuss race issues….

By: Navelgazing Midwife

Navelgazing Midwife — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:19:33 +0000

Thanks for adding yet another site where this topic can be addressed! And yes, the Black Breastfeeding Blog is great. A short note: be careful saying "African American" because not all blacks are American... I know it used to be a term en vogue, but it isn't always appropriate. Hence the Black Breastfeeding Blog.

Thanks for being out here!

NgM