Nature is Man's Instrument

When I imagine child birth I envision the mother rushing to a nearby hospital where there is a skilled doctor on standby waiting for the minute she is ready to give birth to her newborn. Family members and friends are able to sit patiently in a waiting room to celebrate and see the arrival of the baby. This image is not a universally perceived ideal of child birth around the world. In the various readings we see how the image of child birth has been shaped by our cultural values, beliefs, and norms. Additionally, the readings suggest how much power and control certain individuals in our society have over others and how their ideals shape the rest of society’s beliefs and values.

C. S Lewis perfectly states this concept by stating, “man’s power over nature is really the power of some men over other men, with nature as their instrument” (Zola, 500). Child birth is a naturally occurring event in many women’s life. Yet, depending on the woman’s culture she is entitled to different methods of giving birth. As we have discussed in class, medicine is not apolitical. Medicine is developed to meet the needs of the system and the people who created the system. While Zola’s article is not meant to be an attack on medicine, it reiterates the fact that there are elements of the medical industry that are almost invisibly masked that take away the freedom an individual has over their own body. It is evident that throughout the world many women do not have a clear knowledge of the proper way to give birth.

In Lori and Boyle’s article “Cultural Childbirth Practices, Beliefs and Traditions in Postconflict Liberia”, the authors dissects three major themes that attribute to complications in childbirth. One of the major themes being power and authority. The women in the study were often times referred to as a “small child”, “small”, or “little” (466). These descriptive words have the power to castoff a women’s status in society. Not only does it give her low status, but it shows how little power and authority she has over her own body. Additionally, while men are excluded from the actual childbirth they are the “decision makers” in the family so they decide whether or not a woman is brought to the hospital (465). Since women lack the authority in society they are vulnerable to men and elders leaving the process of childbirth in the hands of those with power and influence.

Political, social and cultural factors shape the way women seek care during their childbirth. Restricted access to healthcare and knowledge is a reoccurring issue for women whom are pregnant and ready to give birth. Additionally, the importance of ritual in one’s culture may shape how they make their choices. Fadiman exemplifies the importance of ritual and belief during childbirth when discussing the importance of food cravings, sacrifice, and burying the placenta. While readings through this article I wondered how these rituals came about? Who created them and how have they stuck for so many years. The importance of control, power, and authority is painted in all of the articles.

Unlike Lori, Boyle, and Fadiman’s articles Johnson et al. show how the Netherlands have socially constructed childbirth as a low-risk, empowering, and fulfilling experience for women. Unlike women in Liberia whom may feel alienated and have lack of control, women in the Netherlands are empowered with their own control over their bodies. They have a heavy emphasis on prenatal and preventative care (172). Women in the Netherlands gain a deep knowledge about pregnancy, birth, staying healthy, and navigating the maternal/newborn healthcare system (173). The Netherlands perception of childbirth can demonstrate how an increased amount of emotional support and a decreased amount of technology can be satisfying to women’s health. Not only does it put an emphasis on comfort, but it gives freedom to their own body.

All in all, attitudes and perception of childbirth is attributed from one’s own culture. In Zola’s article it is stated that “living is injurious” (498). While every aspect of our daily life routine has elements that may risk our health it also has elements that may secure our health. While it may be difficult to stray away from one’s own societal beliefs and practicing pertaining to their health it is important to look at other’s cultural practices to see the benefits that they may have. Comparing to the United States, the Netherlands’ ritual of childbirth is less medicalized and more social. 30% of mothers gave birth in their own home. There was no sterile hospital room or family and friends waiting in a hospital waiting room. They had the joy of being in the comfort of their own safe environment. In a hospital there is opportunities for outside influences.