Miracles and home births: the importance of media representations of birth

ABSTRACT

Since most women do not experience birth firsthand before giving birth themselves, many U.S. American birthing women draw knowledge from media representations for understanding what to expect during delivery. Most media representations of birth uphold a medical model, presenting many women with limited options for birth and reducing the agency available to women in their healthcare choices. Lack of choice and agency play into some of the issues surrounding the high rate of maternal mortality in the U.S., compared to other developed nations. This paper analyzes “The Miracle of Birth” scene from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Darci’s home birth on Jane the Virgin from a feminist rhetorical lens to explore the possibilities and limitations in media representations of birth.

KEYWORDS:

• Media representations of birth
• childbirth on TV
• medical model of birth
• social model of birth

Acknowledgments

I want to thank Karthiga Devi Veeramani and Dr. Allison Brenneise for reading an early draft of this essay, and the reviewers of the Women's Caucus of the Central States Communication Association for their feedback. I have no conflicts of interest to report for this manuscript.