Birth: Women's Rights or Human Rights?

Today's entry is simple.  We want to hear from YOU!  Do you feel that birth is strictly a women's issue?  Should birth be something only women of child-bearing age concern themselves with?  Do you view birth choices and politics as a human rights issue?  Why do you feel the way you do?  We'd love to hear from you!

Comments

[Heather]

Birth is absolutely a human rights issue. When our first child came along, my husband got into the process just as much as I did. He wanted to be every bit as educated about our options and our care as I did. He just kept saying, "It may be happening primarily to your body, but my baby is in there, too." It wasn't just about what I wanted or needed, but we as a family wanted and needed. Women should be allowed to birth their babies in the manner in which they feel most safe and supported. Husbands, partners, and birth team members should be allowed to support the mother they love and care for the way she wants and needs, too. I've seen what traumatic births can do to women and their families and it's devastating. Saying it's solely a women's issue is like saying only parents should be concerned about the quality of public education. Even if you don't have a child, you may be working alongside someone one day who has a public education and wouldn't you want to know they were capable of doing their job?

Saying it's solely a women's issue diminishes the rest of the family's contribution to the birth experience, and takes out a very important part of the picture. Birth is a human rights issue because birth is where it all begins. :-)