I share in your frustration over the recent report presented on 60 minutes. I have just read over the transcripts as I unfortunately missed the program. Beyond the complete lack of evidence based research that so many of you have picked up on and discussed within the list is a very interesting notions of risk and of course the issue of the woman's faulty body. Women such as Vanessa Gorman and Tracey Curro are only reflecting the dominant ideologies of the society in which we live. Although I have to admit whilst reading this transcript I felt like hitting someone. It is a shame that they picked someone like Tracey - who is a public and trusted face for Australians - to speak about the medical necessities of having a cs. How are Australians supposed to weigh up the debate? On one side they have Justine who birthed at home with 'only' a midwife present. Which many people within our society would see as being irresponsible. Although it is infuriating to everyone on this list - it is indeed a sentiment that I have had many women share with me. On the other we have the awful story of Vanessa - which to some degree is already in the conscious of Australian society. Her happy ending is not due to her body's ability to birth - but rather to medical intervention. On top of that we have Tracey whose proof is in the pudding- with all of the romantic pictures of her children through their various stages of life. How can a cs be wrong when you end up with children like that and a proper functioning pelvic floor to boot!
The bias was completed with the help of Liz and her interview questions and Dr Molloy with his, I hate to say it, misogynist views. When Liz finally got around to some of the complications that can arise through a caesarean section - it was only to be refuted by the ' expert' Dr Molloy.
I have complete and utter respect for the women on this list and I share in your frustrations. I also want to thank Justine for working so hard on eradicating the type of misinformation that is out there and showing women that we can trust in ourselves first and foremost.
Take care everyone
Alphia
PhD. Candidate
School of Applied and Human Sciences
Bankstown Campus, University of Western Sydney
UWS Locked Bag 1797
South Penrith Distribution Centre
NSW 1797 Australia
Phone: 02 97726628
Fax: 02 97726584
