On the radio
Hi Reader
This morning I spoke on Voice of Islam radio, to talk about Birthing In Colour, the monthly online perinatal space for Black and brown bodied women. I also spoke about the Birthrights Report, Systemic Racism, Not Broken Bodies.
It's always interesting see who wants to know more. I loved that a radio station I hadn't heard of reached out to us. I was able to speak to the fact that Black and brown bodied women were dying of the exact same causes as their white bodied counterparts and that it wasn't the 'fault' of their bodies, but that it was a system that neglects to truly listen. This was the point the radio station wanted to cover, the fact that one of the overwhelming themes of the report is that Black and brown bodied women felt unheard and unsafe.
When asked what we needed to do, I cited the work of Jennie Joseph and how she simply listens, and hears, the people in her care.
When we work as birth keepers, it's important that we understand what it truly means to be.
- To be in the presence of our clients
- To be in support of their wishes
- To be silent
- To be a voice
- To be in the dance of birth and the postnatal
- To be in service
- To be in tune
- To be in love
We live in a world where productivity is important. Our value and measure is found in our productivity. This plays out the white, patriarchal model of life. A busyness. A need for motion, action, a doing of things.
When we work as birth keepers, the opposite is true. There is value in the being still, being silent, being with.
We dream of undisturbed birth whilst remaining in constant motion. Needing to earn the monies we've been paid. Needing to be seen to be of service, rather than being. Simply being.
Of course there is time for action. For voice raising. For decisive action. Yet how can we know when that is, if we live in continual, 'productive' motion?
Tonight is the first live weekly call within Rooted. We will be discussing what it is to be a birth keeper. We'll be looking at what it means to simply be.
There's still time to join us and begin your lifetime membership
See you on the inside.
Mars xx
Hi! I'm Mars
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