Kroppen som arena

Abstract

Being pregnant and giving birth are phenomena which appear both timeless and natural. However, this biological process is one component of a greater cultural context. The contemporary apprehension of sex has an historical relationship to the development of modern medicine. Throughout history, our biological selves have been charged with different meanings. This interplay between culture and biology is the subject of the present article. The body can be seen as an arena in which varying needs and models of thinking meet, where individual experiences and medical structures confront one another. Today's increased interest on behalf of the individual to understand the process of giving birth can result in a conflict with the professional claims of the midwife. These confrontations between individual and structure can occasionally also form the basis for social change.