CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2014
| Author | Beckwith, Schuyler Veronica Potts |
|---|---|
| Title | Choice and Women's Autonomy in Birth: Rhetoric in the United States and its effect on Public Policy |
| Summary | The maternal health care system in the United States is broken. A significant majority of birthing women turn to doctors who employ the technocratic model of birth, which relies on a number of sometimes unnecessary obstetrical interventions before and during labor. The holistic model of birth, used primarily by midwives, focuses on the natural ability of women in birth and serves to empower a woman to make her own choices in her birthing path. This thesis explores rhetoric in the birth and abortion movements since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 and gives the reader a unique perspective of how public opinion and public policy surrounding women’s choice and autonomy has evolved. An extensive literature review provides the reader with necessary background on each movement while the author connects shifts in rhetoric to public opinion and public policy changes.It also provides recommendations on changes policy makers and educators can make moving forward including obstetrical regulatory reform, consistent midwifery regulation, providing more prenatal education opportunities, instating a nationwide educational campaign about choices in birth, and encouraging lawmakers to consider science above all else when making policy. |
| Supervisor | Zentai, Violetta |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2014/beckwith_schuyler.pdf |
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