On things, spaces and procedures of childbirth/born in the contemporary world

contributions from an archeological view

Abstract

In this article we observe that the birth process is culturally modeled from the different paradigms that form societies and the sciences that explain them. Thus, we approach giving birth and being born in different environments from the point of view of the flow of materialities. Our intention permeates the processes of industrialization of childbirth (hospital route) and the resumption of traditional practices considering the things, environments and procedures that intervene in childbirth. When observing the materiality of hospital births, we contemplate a technological set that expresses political control over women's bodies and standardizes procedures, in view of the idea of ​​the existence of universal bodies. In a way contrary to that taken by hospital practices, we observe those carried out in birthing centers as a conquest of the movements by humanized ducks and permeated by materialities that attribute to the parturients the leading role in the act of giving birth. Finally, we conclude that the archaeological perspective, which considers the questioning and reflective possibilities arising from the understanding and problematization of the flows and movements of the materiality of things, constitutes a fertile ground for contributing to the debate of different perspectives for public policies involving the giving birth and being born in contemporary society.