Shifting the Medical Gaze: Towards a Feminist Ethic of Childbirth
The term "reproductive rights" has become synonymous with abortion rights, birth control access, and issues surrounding reproductive technologies, yet the struggle for a woman's right to choose when and how to become pregnant often overshadows a woman's right to choose where and how to give birth. The lack of feminist discourse and activism surrounding issues of childbirth may attest to the hegemony in the modern American birth ritual of increasing medical intervention from obstetricians in hospital settings. There are currently several movements to challenge this dominant birth model--prepared childbirth advocates offer education classes and natural childbirth advocates lobby for the rights of midwives and home births--but I refrain from giving either of these movements a feminist label because neither are invested in challenging prevailing gender ideology or the equation of woman with motherhood. This paper will argue that a feminist discourse of childbirth is necessary by using a Foucauldian analysis to chart the current web of power and knowledge in the American hospital delivery room and how it works to deny agency to women in labor, alienating them from their experience. Recognizing that power and knowledge operate on a myriad of levels and tactics, including counter-tactics, I will not limit my focus to the dominant discourse of medical experts, but also explore what I call counter discourses of childbirth, particularly from the prepared childbirth and natural childbirth advocates. Within this discussion, I hope to offer suggestions on a feminist ethic of childbirth that reaffirms women's autonomy during labor, but does not limit them to prevailing codes o...
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Such are the ranges of Cesarean birthing experiences and corresponding women’s movements that will be explored alongside the politics of birth in this Birthquake research project.
Over the course of the last century, abortion in the Western hemisphere has become a largely controversial topic that affects every human being. In the United States, at current rates, one in three women will have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45. The questions surrounding the laws are of moral, social, and medical dilemmas that rely upon the most fundamental principles of ethics and philosophy. At the center of the argument is the not so clear cut lines dictating what life is, or is not, and where a fetus finds itself amongst its meaning. In an effort to answer the question, lawmakers are establishing public policies dictating what a woman may or may not do with regard to her reproductive rights.
As with many short stories, Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” only has a few pages to develop his main character and create a scenario he or she must learn from or achieve something from or change because of. In such a short amount of space, word choice is integral in constructing a solid impression of the characters and their personalities in the reader’s mind. Carver’s simple use of language and sentence structure combined with his choice for point of view creates an intriguing tone and believable character interaction.
Abortion is a controversial issue in the United States and internationally even when it is legalized. Though women in the United States are able to receive abortions nurses still have many concerns about the ethical issues surrounding abortion. One of the biggest ethical dilemmas is whether the nurse’s role as a caregiver extends to the fetus. This paper will explore the issues faced by nurses who believe they should care for the fetus. If the definition of a patient includes the fetus then providing abortions is contrary to the nurse’s role as caregiver; however, the mother is definitely a patient and must be cared for as well. It is the nurse’s responsibility to support the woman’s decision so that she may obtain an abortion safely. Nurses who put the life of the fetus first are allowed to refuse to participate in an abortion, but this may affect the way women receive nursing care.
...freedom. Only then does he feel a sort of closeness when Robert’s hand is on top of his. As he continues to draw this cathedral with his eyes unopened, he becomes more and more inspired, using his imagination, leaving his old narrow-minded state behind. “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything.” Through this experience he is able to be outside of his old self—the attitude that had held him back. Robert asks if his eyes are open. They are, but it doesn’t feel like it anymore. He takes a look at the world around him with his new-found sight and says, “It’s really something.” The reader cannot be sure the narrator’s attitude will continue to remain over time, but it would be hard for him to go back to what he once was. Never in his life, I imagine, had he dreamed he would learn how to see from a blind man.
Birth is a normal, physiological process, in which a woman’s body naturally prepares to expel the fetus within. It has occurred since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, childbirth has gradually evolved into what it is today - a highly managed whirlwind of unwarranted interventions. Jennifer Block, a journalist with over twelve years experience, has devoted herself to raising awareness regarding the authenticity of the Americanized standard of care in obstetrics, while guiding others to discover the truth behind the medical approach to birth in this country. In her book, Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, Jennifer Block brings forth startling truths concerning this country’s management of birth.
In this work we cover a debatable topic in our society and no matter how many diverse and opponent opinions are, abortion keeps being the interruption for pregnancy, it can be by choice or not. Abortion is seen as a human right just as the public health.
One of the greatest accomplishments of my life is earning college degree as a first generation graduate. With complex family background, my parents always focused on education that they interpret it as “an infinite opportunity if you work hard with good ethics, do no harm, and stay compassionate towards the dream.” Earning Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Connecticut (UConn) and passing NCLEX was the beginning of my proud achievements and a journey of lifelong compassionate care.
A description can never be as vivid as an event that has been experienced. An experience can never be as defining as an event that has left you changed. Under the intensity of childbirth, you're more likely to remember details that would otherwise go unnoticed. All the scenes come together to leave a permanent imprint on the mind's eye.
Carver’s purpose of having the narrator of the short story use imagery allows for the reader to be able to understand each and every moment he lives while explaining the blind man’s, Robert, visit to his home. In Cathedral, the narrator tells the story very detailed and descriptive. For instance, when the narrator describes his wife’s arrival with Robert, “I saw my wife laughing as she parked the car. I saw her get out of the car and shut the door…She went around to the other side of the car to where the blind man was already starting to get out…he was wearing a full beard!” Here, the author makes the narrator describe the scene and details it as if he is describing it to a blind person. Most of the short story uses imagery which makes clear images in the reader’s mind to unders...
...rs, leaving the narrator and Rob to smoke a joint and watch television. The narrator tells Robert what’s going on in the show and asks him if he knows what a cathedral is, since the show is all about cathedrals. Although the narrator isn’t religious, he draws a cathedral for Robert, allowing his hand to be over his. This would allow him to understand what a cathedral looks like. However, when the wife wakes up and asks what they’re doing, she’s confused when the narrator says they’re drawing a cathedral. Robert asks the narrator to open his eyes, and he never does, claiming he feels weightless, suggesting to himself that he’s reached an epiphany. The narrator’s drawing allows him to see beyond “visibility.” He doesn’t understand exactly what he felt, but he knows it was a meaningful experience. Robert demonstrated that seeing involves a lot more than just looking.
The academic rigor that would be demanded by the nursing program is something that I have already experienced, and that I have been able to overcome. I have successfully completed a bachelor in Health science, which I feel has given me broad knowledge in health care and that would be the building blocks to excel in the nursing courses. I also succeeded through my Paramedic and Flight Paramedic course, both which were extremely demanding but rewarding. My work experience will also help me navigate through some of the difficult areas of the nursing program, these hands-on experience fortify the medical knowledge and the correlation between the theory and the positive results in patient care. Never the less, it is my motivation to be a better health care provider which pushes me to strive to be the best at what I do, and that attitude will continue while attending the nursing
Therefore, I would like to get the education that helps me pursue my career that involves caring and nurturing. As of now, I want to work harder toward being a better student in nursing that will help me graduate as a qualified and a knowledgeable candidate. After graduation, I want to serve the community by promoting and maintaining health in the society. In order to build the financial independence as well as to implement my knowledge and ideas into practice, I would like to work. Along with that, I would also like to continue my education so that I gain better expertise in providing the best level of care.
A career in nursing has always sounded like an extremely rewarding and beneficial profession. Nurses have the great opportunity to care for patients on a daily basis, nurses are responsible for helping patients maintain a long, healthy life. In this paper, I will discuss how I became interested in nursing, how my values relate to those of a nurse, and my goals pertaining to the nursing program.
The hotel industry is one of the fastest growing industries in India. The total market size of Indian tourism and hospitality sector stood at US$ 117.7 billion and is expected to touch US$ 418.9 billion by 2022. The foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in hotel and tourism sector during April 2000 to July 2013