Birth Justice are meant to serve as an introduction to various topics, and are by no means a comprehensive education. Depending on your knowledge, identity, and life experience, you may need to spend more or less time with each topic.
From an ethical, moral, and public health perspective, it is critical that all modern birth workers be aware of the dangerous and often fatal injustices that affect birthing people from marginalized and oppressed populations. In an effort to foster that awareness in those training with us, and to invite them to be part of the change needed to end this injustice, Birthing from Within's trainings include birth justice study components, including resource lists, readings, video clips, and prompts for personal reflection and growth.
We expect that all participants will complete these study components, regardless of their backgrounds or previous experiences/knowledge/ study. We understand that these topics can be uncomfortable, and for many of us, that is the point -- exploring and moving through this discomfort is the path to shifting perspectives, recognizing our individual mosaics of privilege, building reflexive inclusivity, and changing our actions.
For those who are members of an oppressed population, it is possible that some of these study components may be traumatizing, rather than uncomfortable in a healthy way; please follow your own understanding of your emotional, mental, and physical safety, and do what is right for YOU. Otherwise, we expect that everyone will engage with this work, knowing that we are all always growing and expanding as birth workers, and also as humans -- and that this growth and expansion is necessary for the task of changing birth in our culture.
Anti-racism and Anti-oppression Frameworks and Resources
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
Inclusivity
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
Racism and Healthcare
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
Privilege and Implicit Bias
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
Ability and Disability
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
Cultural Practices
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.
History of Birth and Midwifery in the U.S.
Birthing from Within has created guidelines for how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our courses. These guidelines are an enactment of the value that we place on relationality, self-reflection, inclusivity, and the dismantling of white supremacy and other oppressive patterns, and they reflect our expectations of both ourselves and our course participants.