Obstetric Violence and Vulnerability: A Bioethical Approach

Corinne Berzon; Sara Cohen Shabot

doi:10.3138/IJFAB-16.2.02

Obstetric Violence and Vulnerability: A Bioethical Approach

Corinne Berzon
, Sara Cohen Shabot

MA Program in Women’s and Gender Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

At healthcare facilities worldwide, women during childbirth undergo medical procedures they haven’t consented to and experience mistreatment and disrespect. This phenomenon is recognized as obstetric violence (OV), a distinct form of gender violence. The resulting trauma carries both immediate and long-term implications, making it vital to address for promoting women’s health. OV is partly shaped by a narrow, paternalistic conception of vulnerability. A flawed conception of the vulnerability of pregnant women and fetuses has opened the door to medical control and coercion during childbirth. In this paper we examine what role notions of vulnerability play in perpetuating OV and consider recent attitudinal shifts in research ethics as a model for addressing it.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	52-76
Number of pages	25
Journal	International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3138/IJFAB-16.2.02
State	Published - Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 2023.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

feminist bioethics and childbirth
gendered violence
medicalization of childbirth
obstetric violence
rights of women in childbirth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies
Health(social science)
Philosophy

Access to Document

10.3138/IJFAB-16.2.02

Cite this

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KW - medicalization of childbirth

KW - obstetric violence

KW - rights of women in childbirth

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Obstetric Violence and Vulnerability: A Bioethical Approach

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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