Paper short abstract:

This interdisciplinary presentation uses feminist film, media and visual arts theory and examples of abusive and violent depictions of women's bodies to suggest how these can be seen to inform our understanding of 'obstetric violence'.

Paper long abstract:

This interdisciplinary, multimedia presentation uses feminist film, media and visual arts theory to uncover influential examples of disrespectful, abusive and violent depictions of women's bodies, to suggest how these can be seen to inform our understanding of 'obstetric violence'.

'Obstetric violence' is a term coined by Veneuelan law in 2010. It is defined as; abusive or disrespectful care of childbearing women by health care professionals, and a lack of concern for physiological birth processes, which leads to a loss of bodily autonomy.

The presentation will explore the powerful cultural legacy generated by the pervasive depiction of the objectification, sexualisation and violence perpetuated against women's bodies in medical illustration and the overt hetero-sexualisation and fetishism of the 'nude'.

In addition, recent phenomena will be looked at, such as gaming culture, the explosion of pornography on the internet, and the mass media's obsession with violence towards women. All these and more, can be seen to encourage a proliferation and perverse pleasure in portrayals of violence and abuse towards women, which, it is suggested, underpins 'obstetric violence'.

However, the presentation also looks at artworks and activist responses by women such as Yoko Ono's infamous 'Cut Piece' (1962) and the Russian music group Pussy Riot's, video 'Straight Outta Vagina' (2016)

The presentation concludes with a reflection on how those in maternity care can use a greater knowledge of the cultural roots of 'obstetric violence' to connect with human rights approaches in birth, women's voices, and a feminist ethics of care.