Community Led Event: Survivor’s Birth and Reproductive Rights presented by Birthmark Doulas

Abstract

Birth violence is described as the mistreatment of women and birthing people in the childbirth
setting. It is an attempt to control a woman's body and decisions, violating her autonomy and
dignity. Statistics show that 1 in 6 women experience sexual trauma or violence in their lifetime.

These women, along with survivors of other traumas also give birth. Many doulas, at some point
in their career, have witnessed a client being subjected to birth violence while simultaneously
having their requests about their bodies ignored or invalidated.This session responds
directly to birth and trauma, the legislature that aims to enforce control upon female bodies, and
ways to educate, provide comfort, hope, and strategies for moving forward.


Read about the Louisiana abortion ban here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/us/louisiana-abortion-heartbeat-bill.html

See this sobering message from a STS scholar who decided not to attend the New Orleans meeting to protest:
https://www.4s2019.org/political_context/