More on medical rape
Debi formerly of The Burning Times has set up a project to collect women’s stories of medical and obstetric rape. MORAG:
When most women go into hospital to give birth to their babies, or to attend for a gynaecological appointment, they probably expect that the staff there will act in their best interests, be caring, and respect their wishes. For the majority of women, their time in hospital is at least comfortable, with each procedure and process being explained to them and their consent being sought for all actions. Unfortunately, for some women, that is not the case, and they can leave hospital with their new baby, or having undergone a gynaecological procedure, feeling violated, traumatised, and in shock.
The site has a good section on definitions of rape and another on whether experiences as described are “real rape”.
Some background links:
Doctor blogger exploits stories of birth rape and assault, ridicules victims
On postmodernism and medical rape
Medical rape and the medicalization of childbirth
Posted by Jess McCabe on 30 June 2008, at 2:07 PM | Comments (8)
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Debs said:
Thanks for spreading the word, Jess. x
Posted on 30 June 2008 at 7:41 PM
Butterflywings said:
Sorry, I'm sure I will get flak for this but - who does it serve to call this rape? Seriously? I could understand if victims said it was *like* rape, felt like rape etc. but it is not rape. What does this achieve? Using a rape metaphor or simile would communicate what these attacks feel like just as strongly.
And I absolutely agree that carrying out ANY medical procedure without consent is a gross violation, an act of complete and utter arrogant entitlement, callousness and insensitivity, and should be subject to disciplinary procedures.
But the motivation is not sexual. So it is not rape.
I don't buy that "rape is about power, not sex" - I think rape is about both. The issue is that so many men conflate power and sex. But that's not the issue with medical procedures without consent. Calling it rape is only hyperbole that actually clouds the issue - what is going on here? What makes medical professionals do this? (Yeah, I pretty much know the answer to that - like I said about arrogance, entitlement...).
Posted on 30 June 2008 at 7:59 PM
Debs said:
If a woman who has been violated and treated inhumanely by medical staff when giving birth, or undergoing a gynae procedure, especially if she has not given consent for certain actions, or withdraws consent during the action, chooses to call that experience 'rape', then that choice should be respected by everybody.
The MORAG Project is all about women's voices and women's experiences, and raising awareness of a real problem in hospitals and the medical profession today. And if women want to use the word 'rape' to describe what happened to them, then they have a perfect right to do that. No, it may not stand up in court. No, it may not fit with the definition of rape most people carry around in their heads. But it has to be named, it has to be talked about, and it has to be dealt with. If not rape, then what else?
"Birth Rape is not too extreme a word in the least. I literally had 2 nurses putting full body weight on my legs to hold them apart while another one shoved a hand up inside of me, all the while I was screaming NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I had transferred in from a home birth and they were punishing me." (http://www.truebirth.com/2008/02/more-than-a-traumatic-birth/)
Doesn't that sound like rape to you? Where is the consent? I believe it is less important to consider the motivations of the offender than it is to consider the consent of the victim.
Posted on 30 June 2008 at 9:22 PM
Kat said:
Butterfly - I'm with you on this. It's not rape, it's LIKE rape, I felt that when I first read about it but you have articulated it very well.
Posted on 30 June 2008 at 10:38 PM
Jess McCabe said:
In cases like this, I think it's best to listen to the words of the women who are describing their experiences. Aren't they in the best position to describe what happened to them?
We're not talking a court case here, or legal definitions.
Posted on June 30, 2008 11:34 PM
Sarah said:
I agree with Debs - we can't read people's mind, and we can't ever know for certain or prove what the motivation was for an act like this, whether there was any sexual element to it or not. What matters more is the harm that is done to the victim, whether she gave consent for the procedure etc.
I do think language is important, however bickering over the use and definition of words is unfortunate in this case if it distracts from the real issue, which is how to raise awareness of this and listen to and support women who have been through it.
Posted on 01 July 2008 at 9:37 AM
Debs said:
Thanks Sarah, it was to try to avoid too much "bickering over the use and definition of words" that I put the 'Real Rape?' page on the site, so that MORAG's position is clear, and we can all move on from that and try to deal with the actual issues.
Posted on 01 July 2008 at 1:28 PM
Butterflywings said:
Thanks Kat.
Merely expressing an opinion, not stopping anyone discussing the issue. Debs, yes, I did read the website. Do you always assume that people who disagree with you are just stupid?
Pretty disappointed to hear a dissenting opinion dismissed as "bickering" on a feminist site - hardly feminist, is it?
Posted on 05 July 2008 at 12:57 PM