[Reader-list] Labour Room as Space for Unheard Voices”

[kuldeep kaur]

The study titled “The Hospital Labour Room as an Urban Space for Unheard Voices” is Questionnaire based study. These questionnaires are based on issues related to reproductive health and socio-psychological constrains on women while entering the labour room. As par our cultural and traditional norms mother-hood is considered a symbol of ‘completeness of women’ but what they feel and experience during labour process? This study is an attempt to understand the tremendous pressures (physical, psychological or social) which decides reproductive decisions of any woman.
Cairo programme of action (The United Nations international conference on population and development in 1994) - define reproductive health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so....” This way labour room is the appropriate place to understand the physical, social and psychological status of women. 
	Reproductive rights are recognized as human rights in national laws and international human rights documents. Are our women aware of if is a million dollar question? Lack of education and information makes women vulnerable not to exercise her reproductive rights is an argument often put forward as explanation for present state of affairs. On the ground any education or information is not sufficient to ensure reproduction free of discrimination, Coercion and violence. The familial and social pressures force women not to exercise her reproductive rights (awareness) — reducing her existence to a womb. Culture, tradition and identity make women subjugate to myths, misconceptions and fears.
Labour room provides data and space about health status of would-be-mothers. In labour room most of the cases of Lower-income group women are ‘acute emergencies’. These are referral cases from various small health centers or untrained dais. Most of the time their economic resources are too meager or they are penny-less. When they narrate their stories of poverty, ignorance and helplessness it obviates the real picture of development and progress propagated through main-stream narratives.
Son-preference social-psyche is the mainstay of patriarchy and women suffer under its clutches. Even highly educated and well-off women are exploited by son-giving gurus and Babas. Some of the admitted mothers are with threads given by their ‘Gurus’. They refused to open it considering auspicious even before going to the operation theater. In one instance, a woman was forced by her mother-in-law to drink animal excreta mixed in liquids saying, that it will bless her with son.
Mostly women depend upon their mother, sisters and friends for basic information. The new era of technology and information has not changed anything for a woman. Rather her exploitation and violence against her have become more sophisticated. The books on such issues are in negligible number? T.V, Radio and press contribute very little in this matter. Mainstream media emphasize on sex education, health education and family planning but where are the required and willing paraphernalia to achieve the propagated goals. 
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