Call for Contributions for New Zine
Is midwifery a feminist issue? How do feminists practice midwifery? What are feminists currently thinking about childbearing? What do feminists think about midwives? This is a ‘call out’ to feminists who would like to contribute to an upcoming ‘zine’ about feminism, midwifery, pregnancy and birthing. A ‘zine’ is an informally published / DIY magazine. If you’ve never seen one then imagine a cross between a leaflet for a local jumble sale, a comic and a text book.
This particular zine will be distributed free or for donations - via free PDF documents and cheap printed copies… contributors will retain original copyright but agree for ‘copy-left’. This means anyone is welcome to copy the zine as long as it’s not for profit and says where the info comes from.
You can contribute anything printable to the zine - writing, rants, poems, cartoons, drawings, photos, quizzes and crosswords, origami birth plans, cut out and keep guide to your womb, birth in the NHS self defence tip cards… anything flat! Contributions deadline - first draft = 30th August 2008.
Please think about making your writing understandable to a wide audience - how you write is up to you, but it might be useful to avoid midwifery jargon or writing in a very academic style. We are interested in the views of student and qualified midwives; doulas; mums and other parents; birth activists and feminist health folk - if you don’t want to use your name you’re welcome to use a nickname.
Some ideas so far…feminist midwifery: birth without borders? - refugee women birthing in the NHS; queer parenting; freebirthing; trans-men birthing; techno-birth ‘v’ ecofeminism; independent midwifery radical or elitist?; dykes midwives and homosexual panic; earth-mother consumerism; birth as power; birth crisis and birth trauma; sexuality and breastfeeding; dads in the labour room; babybonding - myth and reality; Where are the male midwives?; midwifery, horizontal violence and sexism…
Please contact Mannion or Rachel Feminista at:
feministas@riseup.net
Posted by Louise Livesey on 1 July 2008, at 10:01 AM | Comments (4)
Have your say
In order to keep this blog as a feminist and friendly space, comments will be subject to some rules. We do not seek to censor debate: the beauty of the internet is that anyone can set up their own blog or website to express their views.
- This blog is a safe and friendly space for feminists and feminist allies. Debate and critique are welcome where it is constructive and deepens analysis or understanding. Anti-feminist comments will not be approved. We get to decide what's anti-feminist.
- All comments must be approved by one of the bloggers. For this reason, there may be a delay before your comment appears.
- No sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, ablist comments, comments which make personal attacks on any blogger or commenter, or comments that are otherwise deemed offensive by us will be posted.
- Trolls will be banned from commenting. We get to decide who is a troll.
- No anonymous comments - please feel free to use your real name or make one up, though.
- Be nice.
Feeds
Debs said:
Is midwifery a feminist issue? Yes, absolutely! I think this Zine is a great idea, sounds really exciting.
Posted on 01 July 2008 at 1:29 PM
Amity said:
Brilliant! I think it's high time for a magazine like this. Thanks for letting us know!
Posted on 01 July 2008 at 3:03 PM
Ruth Moss said:
What a fabulous idea for a zine! I await its publication with interest!!
Posted on 01 July 2008 at 8:30 PM
Liz Nightingale said:
Yes certainly birth is a faminist issue and those who attend it professionally - midwives, doulas and sometimes doctors need to be open, honest and self about the power issues surrounding birth. Birth can be empowering and wonderful, but it can be (with inappropriate care) degrading and oppressive. Midwives are also oppressed by the system of maternity services. They are suppossed to empower women while being systematically bullied and stripped of their autonomy in their working lives. Let's liberate all oppressed people, birthing women AND their midwives.
Liz
Posted on 03 July 2008 at 8:37 PM