Sociology of the pregnant and birthing body

Several features make pregnancy and childbirth important subjects for sociological study: the pathologisation of a physiological process; subjectification of the female body through the rise of the medical gaze, a gaze that was historically under male control; and the twin entities—the pregnant/birthing woman and the foetus/baby. Until the 19th century neither the state nor the medical profession manifested a great interest in childbirth. Historical shifts in the Global North, driven by a range of political, sociological and cultural factors led to the pregnant and birthing body being reframed as a site of risk demanding careful monitoring and surveillance. This shift highlighted women’s duty to protect their unborn foetus from the intrinsic risks of birthing and the role of technology and medical expertise of medical professionals in managing these risks. In middle- and lower-income countries in the Global South limited resources, poor communication and limited medically trained personnel mean that westernised systems coexist with non-westernised systems. Women’s use of these competing systems is shaped by accessibility, resources and trust.