Hello hello,
Do people still say “Hold the phone!!”?? That was my exact thought upon seeing the new Spiderman movie with my kids. Spoiler alert: There is a Black, PREGNANT Spiderwoman in the new film!!! and an Indian Spiderman!! I mean – Marvel is showing UP! Mostly, I’m thinking about how obvious it is that Black, pregnant women should be heralded as super heroes in this universe, and isn’t it curious we need a movie about an alternate universe to remind us? It’s also curious that I can praise the progress of representation in the film while also being disappointed that it didn’t happen sooner. (#2thingscanbetrue #contradictions)
I’m no art historian (one of my best friends is!! #tiataylor), but I believe pregnant women have always been historically represented in art. They’ve been included in ancient sculptures and were prolific in depictions of ancient goddesses across cultures. I’m really out on a limb here, but you know it’s true! So, what happened? When did we start sheltering pregnant women and the beauty of giving birth from the public eye? That’s a rhetorical question because it’s easy to find the answer… #medicalizationofbirth
I have SO many thoughts about the rise of the OBGYN medical discipline in the late 1800’s. It was created / pioneered by men who had better ways for women to give birth. It led to an interesting standard of care across hospitals in America that devalued thousands of years of midwifery wisdom. AND, we can’t deny that the science in that space has saved countless lives (both mother and child) and evolved to allow so many people to have babies who couldn’t without medical intervention. #contradictions
Regardless, I’m HERE FOR the public reverence for the pregnant woman and the increase in the practice of midwifery at least among affluent, white Americans. Talk about the intersectionality of my explorations / vulnerabilities… is it a ‘Karen’ move to co-opt a practice that has been around for centuries and has actually never changed among brown/black populations across the world? Yes, yes it is. It feels like a form of gentrification of the birthing process especially because of the difference in access to top notch midwifery care in America. All of these thoughts/feelings aside, it’s about damn time we re-introduce the pregnant woman as the icon of superhuman strength! I’m processing my own privilege as it relates to the act of childbirth (don’t get me started on the discrepancies of maternal and infant mortality based on race in America…)
Talk soon,
Jessica
#powertoprivilege #blacklivesmatter #courageousconversations
PS Receipts for my claims above:
