Posted by Deneb on October 26, 2010, at 13:22:50
In reply to Medically sanctioned rape, posted by Deneb on October 26, 2010, at 12:11:18
I believe all women have a right to their bodies. I guess you would say I am a feminist. I believe this is true in all settings, be it medical or otherwise.
I just read about birth rape and it is appalling. If I am in labour and don't want doctors examining my cervix, that is my right and if anyone touches me without my consent, it is sexual assault. After reading about birth rape, if I ever get pregnant, I will NOT be going to the hospital.
Here is a an exerpt I totally agree with:
http://mymilkspilt.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/when-changing-birth-culture-meets-fighting-rape-culture/
When a woman has a hand or an instrument inserted into her vagina whilst she screams and thrashes out her non-consent, and when this action is sanctioned by society because it occurs in a medical setting (and because it is believed it must be for the safety of her baby if carried out in this setting, regardless of whether or not it was medically indicated or evidence-based care), we have a problem. When women are routinely given vaginal examinations without their consent being sought or given (either without their knowledge under aneasthetic or in an obstetric setting), we have a problem. When a woman attests that she was raped in an obstetric setting and her story is greeted with at best derision and at worst outright hostility, we have a problem. We all have a problem.
The problem is that in a culture that allows the bodily autonomy of women to be eroded, denied, violently erased in any setting, bodily autonomy only exists as a value that is demonstrably vulnerable to attack. In other words: if you have a childfree, currently not disabled body and you like having your right to give or withold consent protected, then youd better care about the possiblity that it could be taken from you if your body changes. And more than that: youd better care that whilst the medical community and other facets of society sit by and tacitly condone the violation of certain womens bodies, that the violation of other bodies could also make it onto the agenda. When there are circumstances where sexual violence is deemed acceptable or inevitable or even desirable, it is only the circumstances that protect the rest of us and circumstances change, expand and multiply.
Birth rights are about more than birth, and advocating for birthing women is advocating for all.
poster:Deneb
thread:966784
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20100907/msgs/967046.html