Anesthesia Quote by Sheila Kitzinger
“In most societies birth has been an experience in whichwomen draw together to help each other and reinforce bonds in the community. Now that eradication of pain with effective anesthesia is often the only issue in any discussion of birththe sacramental and social elements which used to be central to women's experience of birthseem, for an increasing proportion of women, to be completely irrelevant.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Birth and Society, Sheila Kitzinger, 1995
Modern medical practices have sidelined communal support and ritual in childbirth, making many women feel disconnected from traditional communal bonds.
In simple terms: Birth has become clinical, losing shared community support.
Key Takeaway
Reintroduce community rituals in modern birthing.
Themes
community
ritual
birth
modernity
women's health
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
sociological
observational
When to use this quote
- hospital births
- midwife-led care
- parenting groups
- cultural preservation
Key Concepts
social cohesion
medicalization
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How can hospitals incorporate community support?
- What rituals can be adapted for modern births?
A Different Perspective
Some women still value medical safety over communal rites.
![“To write poetry, like sincere poetry, it is like performing heart surgery on yourself without anesthesia...in public...You are peeling back layers. You are dissecting yourself...You do not know what they [the audience] is going to do when you reach into yourself and rip out your organs to be…” quote by Amir Sulaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a52/amir-sulaiman-82607_anesthesia_to-write-poetry-like-sincere-poetry-it-i_514992.jpg)
