I am very pleased to welcome Daiana Barasa today. She has come to talk more and clarify what constitutes obstetric violence, a topic still rarely discussed among mothers and expectant mothers. It is important for everyone to know that unfortunately, this type of practice still exists today, and increasingly so. Welcome, Daiana, especially with such an important topic!
“Being a mother is truly a gift worthy of reverence, of praise, tributes… but what we have on our planet is a reality masked by hypocrisy. I recently saw a public campaign held in Uruguay that exposed the abuse women suffer at the moment of giving birth. The video went viral and even won an award at Cannes, but this story is repeated in various parts of the world. In the context of the Uruguayan campaign, the message of denunciation was: if the woman “spread her legs” to have a child, she needs to be “brave” to get quicker care, she needs to be brave to be disrespected. Appalling!
This violence, commonly practiced and concealed, is known as obstetric violence. Data collected in March of this year by the Grupo de Maternidade Ativa (GAMA) showed that between 80% and 90% of Brazilian women are cut during normal delivery procedures, without necessity and without the woman’s consent. For the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, reports only characterize an explicit case of violence against women, and according to the body, health institutions that disrespect women at the time of childbirth, as well as the right for them to have contact and breastfeed their baby immediately after birth, must be reported so they can receive appropriate punishment. But what punishment could restore to a woman the respect that should have been hers in that “unique” moment? Before tributes and praise to the woman who gives life, it is important to think about what happens in our country and in many other places around the world.
Uruguayan Amnesty International Campaign:
Are the complaints known to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office enough for effective action? Or is it that women need to be aware of complaints beyond their own so that these acts of disrespect are not imposed on them as an “obligation”? Yes, because if she “spread her legs” she has to endure all kinds of humiliation from health professionals who should show at least a minimum of respect towards women. And how long will women remain passive and not care to understand and study the existing laws that protect them? How long will they not care about the laws that have yet to be enacted to protect them?
Obstetric violence is practiced in various public hospitals in Brazil and around the world, and let’s not think it doesn’t occur in private hospitals, because the mere silence and dry, succinct answers from health professionals are still a covert form of violence, which could be explicit if the more refined physical conditions of the place did not exist.
And once again, quoting the award-winning advertising campaign created for Amnesty International in Uruguay, which won an award at Cannes and had millions of views and applause, I pose the following question: What award did women who suffered or will suffer obstetric violence receive or will receive? What praise to motherhood is there when being a mother is literally to “suffer” in what should be paradise? What is the most prominent violence? The violence suffered by women in various parts of the world at the moment of giving birth? Or “self-violence” when knowledge is lacking or when there is no fight for one’s own rights?
Having “spread her legs” is only a reason for humiliation during childbirth in various parts of the world because before, arms were crossed and eyes were closed. Being a mother is indeed a gift, but a woman needs to recognize her right to be a woman and not remain silent.
Daiana Barrasa writes for the Sare Group: www.saredrogarias.com.br
And researched using the sites of the Public Defender’s Office of the State of São Paulo: http://www.defensoria.sp.gov.br/dpesp/repositorio/41/Violencia%20Obstetrica.pdf The importance of reporting cases of obstetric violence: http://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-carlos-regiao/noticia/2014/04/denunciar-violencia-obstetrica-e-o-1-passo-para-reduzir-casos-diz-medica.html
See also: Humanized Birth – Now It’s Law!
Photo: Manuel
