GENDER, POWER RELATIONS AND CHILDBIRTH: Negotiations with Cultural and Biomedical Discourses

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Aastha Kant

• Language: English

• Cover: Hardcover

• ISBN: 9788131610626

• Pages: 230

About the Book

Gender, Power Relations and Childbirth: Negotiations with Cultural and Biomedical Discourses delves into the complex ways in which women from a resettlement colony navigate the various gendered power dynamics surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. This book explores how women mobilize multiple knowledges, resources, and support systems to negotiate patriarchal control over their bodies during pregnancy and childbirth.

Aastha Kant's study examines how women blend cultural and biomedical discourses to address societal expectations regarding pregnancy and childbirth, often simultaneously drawing from both sources of knowledge. Through this negotiation, women develop strategies of compliance and resistance, providing valuable insights into the everyday experiences of gender power relations. The book reflects on how these women continuously strive to challenge their subordination while managing the demands of patriarchal structures.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Theoretical Framework and Methodology

3. Experiencing Pregnancy: Multiple Knowledges, Resources and Support Systems

4. Striving Towards ‘Safe’ Birthing: Cultural and Biomedical Practices

5. Post-Childbirth Celebrations: Resurgence of Cultural Practices

6. Conclusion

About the Author

Aastha Kant is a sociologist currently serving as a Project Manager at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, India Research Center, Mumbai. Prior to this, she worked as an Assistant Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. With a rich background in social sciences, Aastha has also held a position as a Program Officer at the Population Council in New Delhi. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from TISS, Mumbai and has published extensively in national and international journals.