Definitions.

Although not exhaustive, this list of definitions is always changing and expanding. We invite you to visit it as you navigate this site and our content.

Birth Justice

Birth Justice is a component of the Reproductive Justice framework. Birth Justice is a movement that believes that when birthing people recognize their innate power to make the best health decisions for themselves and their families during all stages of pregnancy, birth, and the post-birth period that power will have a transformational impact on their family and community.

The long history of trauma and reproductive oppression that Black communities and other underserved groups have experienced is the constant force that drives and shapes the Birth Justice movement. To challenge systems of oppression, such as racism and sexism in reproductive care, Birth Justice advocates for culturally appropriate, person-centered care while challenging disrespectful care. It also supports the sharing of knowledge amongst communities and improves access to breastfeeding support and traditional birthworkers, such as midwives and doulas. — Voices for Birth Justice

Full-Spectrum Doula (Birthworker)

Full-spectrum doulas are community care workers who support the full spectrum of reproductive experiences, pregnancy, birth, fertility, postpartum, abortion, loss, etc. Full-spectrum doulas work alongside clients in a non-medical capacity to provide education and physical, emotional, and mental support in an inclusive, culturally humble, anti-oppressive, and client-centered way. Full-spectrum birthworkers become educated on systemic barriers that clients face because of their social location and advocate for them to have equitable experiences.

Reparative Birthwork

I, Darnicia of Birth Theory, introduced the concept of Reparative Birthwork, which applies the principles of Reparative Justice to birthwork. Reparative Birthwork is a philosophy that recognizes that when birthworkers are hurting within their own communities, they are unable to provide healing and restorative support to their clients. Hence, it becomes necessary for us to heal ourselves through communication, community, and communion with each other, always centering the voices of birthworkers who have been marginalized, oppressed, or harmed. We call each other in to be conscious and intentional and to grow with integrity so as to stop present harm and prevent the reproduction of harm. We work together to co-create spaces for collective liberation, justice, healing, and repair.

Reparative Justice

Reparative Justice is a framework and mindset. It's a way of thinking about justice that centers those who have been harmed, focuses on repairing past harm, stops present harm, and prevents the reproduction of harm. Reparative Justice addresses harm at the individual and community level and then seeks to restore and repair the damage.

Reproductive Justice

SisterSong defines Reproductive Justice as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

Social Justice

Social justice holds that everyone deserves a fair balance in the distribution of wealth, opportunities, privileges, and political and social rights. It idealizes a society where individuals' rights are recognized and protected.

Social Location

Social location is a way to identify ourselves, who we are, and the lenses that inform our movement through the world. BADT refers to social location as a person’s position in a particular culture, society, or social hierarchy. Someone’s social location accounts for the power dynamic(s) in which they play a part, the systems that they navigate, the resources they have access to, and the formative experiences that they carry with them. Human beings are social creatures, and social capital is a real currency that influences the ways we live and experience the world around us. Of course, there is no objective way to measure social capital, but a social location can help to identify some of the key factors that may impact someone’s social mobility and access at a given point in time.

CONTACT US

Birth Theory LLC welcomes your questions regarding definitions and language:

darnicia@birththeory.com

Last Updated: April 6, 2024