ABSTRACT
The objective of the qualitative research presented in this chapter is to gain insight into the normalization of obstetric violence by focusing on the moral and epistemic injustices that both facilitate obstetric violence and make it look acceptable. We elaborate on two groups of results. First, we discuss the forms of obstetric violence most commonly mentioned by the participants, which were vaginal examinations, episiotomies, and pelvic floor support. Second, we demonstrate two major themes that concern practices related to moral and epistemic injustice: 1) “playing the dead baby card,” with the subthemes of “shroud waving,” “hidden agenda,” and “normalizing obstetric violence”; and 2) “troubling consent,” with subthemes of “not being asked for consent,” “saying ‘yes,’” “saying “no,’” and “giving up resistance.”
