Sociology 154 - Pregnancy and Birth, Fall 2024

My Oral Birth Story, provided by my mom, was a pivotal experience that was provided to me through a Pregnancy and Birth Sociology course. This course included analyzing different birth stories and reflecting on societal factors that impacted, or determined if a birthing person’s experience was positive or negative. These analyses supported us in our final project, which was to conduct an Oral Birth Story, where we gathered an oral birth story from someone close to us, and wrote about the birthing person’s experiences. We then provided an analysis of their experiences, relating to previous class readings or birth stories. The main component of this project was connecting how culture and society shaped their pregnancy and subsequent birth experiences. My mom was a young parent in a traditional immigrant family and as a result, she faced many hardships, at the hands of her family and society. The experience was a valuable educational opportunity that deepened my bond with my mom and helped me comprehend the struggles endured due to a broken system. This experience solidified my passion for reproductive and sex outreach, and my interest in bridging the gap between folks receiving comprehensive sex education, along with resources they’re able to access.