“Boys with the toys”. Hegemonies of Men over Reproduction: Biomedical Childbirth Made in Czech Republic.

ŠMÍDOVÁ, Iva. “Boys with the toys”. Hegemonies of Men over Reproduction: Biomedical Childbirth Made in Czech Republic. In The Second ISA Forum of Sociology Social justice and democratization Buenos Aires, Argentina August 1-4, 2012. 2012.

Basic information

• Original name: “Boys with the toys”. Hegemonies of Men over Reproduction: Biomedical Childbirth Made in Czech Republic.
• Name in Czech: "Kluci s hračkama": Hegemonie mužů nad reprodukcí: biomedicínský porod "Made in Česká republika"
• Authors: ŠMÍDOVÁ, Iva (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: The Second ISA Forum of Sociology Social justice and democratization Buenos Aires, Argentina August 1-4, 2012, 2012.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Conference abstract
• Field of Study: 50000 5. Social Sciences
• Country of publisher: Argentina
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/12:00058295
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords (in Czech): sociologie medicíny; gender; hegemonie; porod
• Keywords in English: medical sociology; gender; hegemony; childbirth
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

The paper reflects the RC call to “attempt empirically and critically explore mens involvement in reproduction“. The goal is to explore (consistent and changing) masculine hegemonies in reproductive medicine in the Czech Republic, a Central European country with totalitarian experience (1948 – 1989). The Czech medical context is highly developed with a biotechnological approach to human reproduction eliminating debates about potential alternatives, not to mention practices; it is paternalistic and strongly gendered. Structures of power relations and masculine domination in the arena hinder the expected democratisation of gender relations in the arena of human reproduction. Despite recent significant changes in assessment of mens involvement in human reproduction, and in bringing more gender justice to the field, critical approach to potential challenges these processes bring is adopted in the paper. The paper concentrates on the dominant biomedical approach to childbirth (event studied at length by sociologists, social anthropologist as well as feminist scholars). It elaborates ideologies and practices as represented in recent articles from Czech obstetric/gynaecological journals and in presentations at annual conferences of the national OB-GYN Association. The intersection of professional and gender hegemonies as well as biomedical authoritative/expert knowledge (Jordan; Foucault) is questioned. The paper poses a critique of a simplistic rhetoric stressing approaches to mens involvement in reproduction as a lack of both action and power. It argues and elaborates the omnipresence and power of men in human reproduction, particularly at childbirth. Theoretical inspiration comes from CSM (Critical studies on men and masculinities) approaches, and Foucaults governmentality and biopolitics. The critique acknowledges, though, the discourses as well as practices at childbirth that may and sometimes do challenge the existing masculine hegemonies, and illustrates the (lack of) challenge on empirical data from the Czech context (fathers presence at childbirth, feminisation of medical care etc.).

Abstract (in Czech)

Konfrenenční prezentace analyzovala dílčí výsledny sociologického výzkumu v oblasti české reprodukční medicíny, konkterétně genderové a mocenské aspekty současného biomedicínského přístupu v porodnictví.

Links

• GAP404/11/0621, research and development project: Name: Porody, asistovaná reprodukce a zacházení s embryi. Sociologická analýza současné reprodukční medicíny v ČR.

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Childbirth, assisted reproduction, and embryo manipulation. A sociological analysis of current reproductive medicine in