Why Birth is Political: The Radical Act of Being a Birthworker

Birth is not just personal—it is deeply political. Every birth carries the weight of history, the structure of society, and the fight for autonomy. To be a birthworker is to stand at the intersection of reproductive justice, healthcare reform, and human rights. It is an act of resistance in a world that has long sought to control birthing bodies.

But how do we build resistance as birthworkers when the world feels like it’s on fire?

How do we hold space for others while trying to process our own rage, grief, and exhaustion?How do we not burn out when birthwork requires us to be professional empathizers in a time of relentless crisis?

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: resistance is built in community.

The Historical Suppression of Midwifery and Birthwork

For centuries, birthwork has been systematically erased, criminalized, and medicalized to serve patriarchal and capitalist interests.

• Midwives were burned as witches in Europe, their wisdom dismissed as dangerous and primitive.

• Colonial forces dismantled indigenous birth traditions, replacing them with Western medical models that stripped away autonomy.

• In the U.S., racist medical practices forced Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities into hospitals where they were experimented on, sterilized, and denied basic dignity.

Despite this, birthwork has survived. It has been carried in whispers, passed down through generations, hidden in kitchens, backrooms, and underground networks of support. To practice birthwork today is to reclaim that stolen knowledge and to insist that birthing people have the right to dignity, autonomy, and informed choice.

How Systemic Inequality Shows Up in Birth Today

• Black and Brown women are still dying at disproportionate rates in childbirth—not because of biology, but because of racism in medical care.

• Low-income parents are denied access to midwives and doulas, options that have been proven to improve birth outcomes.

• Queer, trans, and non-binary parents face erasure in maternity care, forced to conform to systems that do not see or honor them.

• Abortion rights are under attack globally, restricting the ability of people to choose when, how, and if they give birth.

Birthwork is not just about labor support. It is about fighting for a world where every birthing person has control over their body, their care, and their future.

Why Birthwork is an Act of Resistance

Every time we support a birthing person to make an informed choice, we challenge a system that has long denied them that right.

Every time we advocate for a patient’s voice to be heard, push back against unnecessary interventions, or fight for reproductive justice, we are resisting.

Every time we center traditional birth knowledge, honor community midwives, or hold space for trauma and healing, we are building a different future.

To be a birthworker is to be an activist. Whether you are a doula, midwife, perinatal social worker, childbirth educator, or advocate—you are part of a movement that is as ancient as humanity itself and as radical as the future we are building.

How to Sustain the Work Without Burning Out

The world is heavy right now. It’s easy to feel swallowed by it all. Doom spiraling is tempting, and sometimes, necessary. But so is joy. So is action. So is staying clear about what we’re fighting for.

So where do we start?

1. Organize, not just react.

Staying informed is important, but drowning in bad news won’t move us forward. Find ways to take action—whether that’s supporting local abortion funds, advocating for policy change, or educating your community. Small, consistent actions build momentum.

2. Stay tethered to joy.

Resistance isn’t just about fighting—it’s about creating the world we want to live in. That means making space for gratitude, laughter, pleasure, and deep rest. Joy is a radical act. Find it. Protect it.

3. Know your lane.

Birthwork intersects with reproductive justice, social justice, and public health, but no one can do everything. Figure out where your skills are most needed, and focus there. Burnout serves no one.

4. Lean into community.

The worst thing we can do is isolate ourselves. Organizing, processing, and healing are meant to be collective efforts. Find your people, hold each other, and build something that lasts.

5. Remember why we’re here.

Birthwork is ancient. It has survived every system that has tried to erase it. We are part of a lineage of revolutionaries, and our presence, our knowledge, and our work matter.

Let’s spiral when we need to. Let’s scream and grieve and rage. But let’s also organize, protect our joy, and keep showing up.

What are you doing right now to hold yourself steady in this storm? Drop your thoughts below. Let’s build together. We need each other.