Comments for Radical Doula

Comment on How can midwifery truly be made accessible to communities of color? by Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:05:05 +0000

sadibird i think i see where the post is meaning to go, tho all the head-first stuff makes it unclear. ina may gaskin got a lot of recognition and an award and an obstetrical maneuver named for her (the only maneuver ever to be named after a woman practitioner!) yet she didn’t originate it. She learned it from indigenous midwives- women of color- and brought it back to her practice in the U.S. (mostly with white women and other white midwives). This “flipping” maneuver was something developed in midwife communities of color in latin america yet it’s named (here in the u.s., in popular consciousness, and in ob practice) after a white person. it’s a roundabout example of the “gatekeeping” mentioned in the earlier post, and i agree.

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by Justine A

Justine A — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:25:55 +0000

Wow what a great discussion here. This post brings up so much for me, I almost
don’t know where to begin

First, I don’t think the body of the post completely supports the title. I agree
it’s time to reclaim values, those that were defined
and claimed by the right. We all have values and some of them are very similar
regardless of which way you lean politically. This has become a question of
religion and morality only because that’s how the right has painted it and we
Americans have bought into it.

If we took the question of religion out of the picture and simply focused on
values, we, especially doulas and other birthing pros would have a lot in
common. We might not agree on everything but we weren’t meant to. I think we all
value life, whether we are pro-choice or not. I think we all value freedom,
whether we are pro-choice or not. Because belief is so deeply ingrained in us
and we are willing to fight and die for our beliefs, judgment and
narrow-mindedness can become the divisive factor in how we relate to each other.
We all have beliefs and it would do humanity good to have us each examine our
beliefs and be open to the idea that maybe certain beliefs don’t serve us or the
highest good.

Lastly, I want to make a distinction here between religion and spirituality.
They are often talked about as one and the same. I think it’s important to have
a common definition when addressing topics such as these. I see myself as highly
spiritual but not religious. I reject the idea that political affiliation has
anything to do with spirituality or even religion. We only accept this idea
because it is what has been shoved down our throats for so long.

It’s time to first redefine and then reclaim our values. As a life coach, when I
read the title I thought, right on someone is talking about how important it is
we are connected to our values. After reading the post, I still hold that
viewpoint and would say it’s more important now than ever for each of us to
identify our values, connect to them and live life proudly and joyfully from our
deepest values. Forget the labels and judgments that come with them. When we are
free to live our most meaningful values, the world becomes a more loving and
just place. Just my 2 cents.

Comment on Radical Doula Profiles: Karla Pippa by Debby Rabeor

Debby Rabeor — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:18:02 +0000

Karla, we love your spirit. And you’re right, your “transferable skills” from a political organizer to Doula come from the same foundation – the passion to advocate. Thank you for what you do, and for your commitment to enriching the lives of women and children.

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by Montrealdoula

Montrealdoula — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:23:34 +0000

I agree with you Radical Doula. But it seems everyone needs a soapbox to stand on and yell about something. Best to apply doula non-partisan respect, an open heart and hands-off integrity to every part of your life. Life outside the box!

Comment on How can midwifery truly be made accessible to communities of color? by sadibird246

sadibird246 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:46:40 +0000

Not really sure where you’re going with this… the Gaskin Maneuver has to do with resolving shoulder dystocia specifically. It’s not really about delivering head-first (seeing as most babies are born that way).

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by Ashley Steimer-King

Ashley Steimer-King — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:22:23 +0000

Right on Radical Doula!

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by Stella Rose

Stella Rose — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:30:37 +0000

I’d be interested to know the citations of which you speak. Since the understanding of how human reproduction worked was so different thousands of years ago when these texts were written (e.g., there was no microbiology as we understand it, etc) it seems very unlikely that they could be easily mapped on to modern concepts. Certainly there is some interpretation needed there.

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:44:20 +0000

You know what else? You can be an atheist and have values. Why the hell do you have to ascribe to a religion to have a moral code? You don’t (clearly, since most religious people ignore the bulk of their holy books) and I’m sick of being treated like a social pariah because I don’t believe in a sky-daddy.

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by radicaldoula

radicaldoula — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:14:14 +0000

I have to disagree. I think there are lots of different moments in these texts, some that directly contradict each other. I’m not saying every passage in the Bible or Old Testament is in our favor, but that it’s the interpretation of the texts as conclusively supporting one opinion or another that is mostly false, and used by the Right to justify all sorts of things.

Comment on Why it’s time for us to reclaim “values” by radicaldoula

radicaldoula — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:11:35 +0000

I don’t think religion and values are the same thing, although you are right that they are often conflated. This conflation is why I made the connection here.

That’s why I think it’s so important for those of us with radical politics, religious or not, to claim our values.