From Art to Advocacy in Maternal Healthcare Issues with Michelle Hartney

Listener Warning: This episode discusses how Obstetric Violence and Sexual Assault are interconnected through language and physical touch.

When a doctor repeatedly told artist Michelle Hartney, “lie on your back” during the birth of her second child– not in Michelle’s birth plan, and not medically indicated – this got her thinking, and took her work in a new direction. What happens when care violates trust and consent? And how can we inspire new conversations in order to make a change? Episode 16 of Poised & Powerful Podcast is linking art to advocacy in maternal healthcare issues! 

Book your FREE 15-minute virtual consult to learn more about working with Sarah! She offers virtual sessions for expecting and new parents. Expecting parents will have a framework for considering and building positive habits for not just the baby - but also yourself. New parents will learn how to move like a kid again, so you have more energy for what matters.

In this episode of Poised & Powerful Podcast, Michelle and I discuss the following:

• The surprising conversations she has in her studio. How art can educate in a different way than facts and statistics. 
• We have a culture in the United States around pregnancy and birth, it’s important to acknowledge that contest and its interconnected history. The conversation of consent is relatively new, and it’s important to inform and empower yourself. 
• The interconnection of obstetric violence, sexual assault, and sexual autonomy for womxn – that they all come from attitudes of control towards womxn’s bodies. 
• How she’s been handling parenthood and making art during the pandemic. 

We hope this episode gets you thinking about the issues YOU care about, and how you can be an advocate. Parents are change-makers! 

Please check out the projects mentioned in  this episode (with images): 

https://www.michellehartney.com/birthwords 

https://www.michellehartney.com/kimberly-said-no

https://www.michellehartney.com/freidmans-curve 

https://www.michellehartney.com/black-pregnant 

https://www.michellehartney.com/mothers-right

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Poised & Powerful and Sarah at https://poisedpowerfulparenthood.com/interviews

CONNECT WITH Michelle:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellehartneyart/

References: 

On history of childbirth in the US: Deliver Me From Pain: Anesthesia and Birth in America by Jacqueline H. Wolf 

“Failure to Progress” and debunking Friedman’s Curve

What is informed consent, really? 

RAICES TEXAS