HYSTERICAL BODIES and MIDWIFERY at Bournemouth University
This Easter BAHP took our HYSTERICAL BODIES talk on the road to Bournemouth for an amazing session with Bournemouth Universities’ midwifery department.
Through this unique class we explored the of the intersection between Art, Science, Anatomy, Medicine and Women, uncovering theories of the ‘Wandering Uterus’, the anatomical Venus, ‘Female Hysteria’ Scold’s Bridles, Female Genital Mutilation, Chinese Foot Binding, and the Beauty Myth.
The afternoon’s drawing session was an open workshop that made use of the fabulously practical midwifery school’s day to day birthing tools, from latex labia to felt babies and midwifery after-birth kits.
Students were encouraged to draw quickly, reacting to each object in turn to create a fast paced and collaborative drawing free of pre-conceptions. The midwifery aids were both fascinating to draw, but also engaged the group in unexpected conversations; why were the aids so depersonalized, why were there no dolls, baby-sized or woman-sized, of anything other than a caucasian baby? Questions arose about the misogyny still present in the way that women can be treated throughout their birthing experience, and both positive and negative experiences, professional and personal, were shared freely with the group.
We had a phenomenal time taking HYSTERICAL BODIES on the road, and we’re looking forward to our next schools booking coming up in June! Meanwhile, check out our Sculpting the Goddess class or our PAINTING ARTEMISIA!
