"We are humans, not animals" Obstetric Violence in Kosovo: An Intersectional Analysis of Women’s Responses to Obstetric Violence
(2022) SIMZ21 20221Graduate School
- Abstract
- This study explores different modalities of agency that birthing women in
Kosovo express when met with a high threat of obstetric violence and structural
constraints. Specifically, this study identifies the strategies and tactics women
employ during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to avoid and minimise the
risk of obstetric violence in public and private health settings. Moreover, this study examines the intersections between and across multiple identity markers and
backgrounds of the birthing women and how they shape their strategies and tactics.
The results emphasize that obstetric violence is present in Kosovo, especially in
public sector settings, and it assumes multiple forms. Simultaneously, obstetric
violence... (More) - This study explores different modalities of agency that birthing women in
Kosovo express when met with a high threat of obstetric violence and structural
constraints. Specifically, this study identifies the strategies and tactics women
employ during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to avoid and minimise the
risk of obstetric violence in public and private health settings. Moreover, this study examines the intersections between and across multiple identity markers and
backgrounds of the birthing women and how they shape their strategies and tactics.
The results emphasize that obstetric violence is present in Kosovo, especially in
public sector settings, and it assumes multiple forms. Simultaneously, obstetric
violence in this study site is undergirded by broader factors such as patriarchal
norms embedded at all levels of society, commodification of healthcare, and informality. This study shows that women employ multiple strategies and tactics to
avoid and minimise obstetric violence. The most utilised strategies by women are
(a) purchasing obstetric care in the private sector and (b) informal practices, while the most utilised tactics are (a) performance of docility and (b) performance of resistance. In this study, I argue that the intersections of women’s identities and backgrounds shape their choices of strategies and tactics and their “success.” These agentic actions vis-à-vis strategies and tactics that women employ take the form of complicity and resistance, however, they represent a strong expression of agency (Avishai, 2016). While the agentic actions of women might uphold the current
oppressive structures, women use the space to bargain with the system and
maximize their security, avoid, and minimise obstetric violence (Kandiyoti, 1988).
Hence, this study argues that even in such a context characterized by multiple
structural constraints, women can think, plan, make choices and re/negotiate their
position within the system (Avishai, 2016; Kandiyoti, 1988). (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9089823
- author
- Morina, Diana LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMZ21 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Obstetric Violence, Kosovo, Agency, Intersectionality, Commodification, Informality, Strategies, Tactics
- language
- English
- id
- 9089823
- date added to LUP
- 2022-06-23 10:55:32
- date last changed
- 2022-06-23 10:55:32
@misc{9089823, abstract = {{This study explores different modalities of agency that birthing women in Kosovo express when met with a high threat of obstetric violence and structural constraints. Specifically, this study identifies the strategies and tactics women employ during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to avoid and minimise the risk of obstetric violence in public and private health settings. Moreover, this study examines the intersections between and across multiple identity markers and backgrounds of the birthing women and how they shape their strategies and tactics. The results emphasize that obstetric violence is present in Kosovo, especially in public sector settings, and it assumes multiple forms. Simultaneously, obstetric violence in this study site is undergirded by broader factors such as patriarchal norms embedded at all levels of society, commodification of healthcare, and informality. This study shows that women employ multiple strategies and tactics to avoid and minimise obstetric violence. The most utilised strategies by women are (a) purchasing obstetric care in the private sector and (b) informal practices, while the most utilised tactics are (a) performance of docility and (b) performance of resistance. In this study, I argue that the intersections of women’s identities and backgrounds shape their choices of strategies and tactics and their “success.” These agentic actions vis-à-vis strategies and tactics that women employ take the form of complicity and resistance, however, they represent a strong expression of agency (Avishai, 2016). While the agentic actions of women might uphold the current oppressive structures, women use the space to bargain with the system and maximize their security, avoid, and minimise obstetric violence (Kandiyoti, 1988). Hence, this study argues that even in such a context characterized by multiple structural constraints, women can think, plan, make choices and re/negotiate their position within the system (Avishai, 2016; Kandiyoti, 1988).}}, author = {{Morina, Diana}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{"We are humans, not animals" Obstetric Violence in Kosovo: An Intersectional Analysis of Women’s Responses to Obstetric Violence}}, year = {{2022}}, }