Graduation Year
2020
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Anthropology
Reader 1
Professor Morales
Reader 2
Professor Park
Rights Information
© 2020 Alexandra R Hunter
Abstract
A doula is a non-medical birth attendant. Obstetric doctors and midwives have the responsibility of delivering the baby, while doulas tend to birthing women’s emotional and physical needs, while also helping to support her partner and/or family, helping her navigate the healthcare system and acting as an advocate. Doulas guide their clients through the reproductive landscape by providing them personalized information based on the client’s subjectivity so that the client can feel empowered to make the best decisions for themselves. Doulas provide non-medical expertise that fills the social and emotional gap lacking in the medical model of birth. I argue that the state of doulas today comes from a history of eliminating social care from reproductive health through the medicalization of birth and subsequent commodification of reproductive health care.
Recommended Citation
Hunter, Alexandra, "Personalized Reproductive Care: Doulas Past and Present" (2020). Scripps Senior Theses. 1582.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1582
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
