Birth on Labor Day
And of course, something needs to be said about Birth on Labor Day, aka BOLD, a new event slated to occur annually on Labor Day (appropriate, eh?). Created by playwright Karen Brody, and clearly modelled off of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues and the subsequent V-Day that was created to call attention to violence against women, Birth on Labor Day centers around a play, Birth, which is based on interviews Brody did with over one hundred women during 2004-2005, and relates the stories of 7 women and their differing birth experiences. Birth, and BOLD, is designed to examine the way women give birth in this country, calling attention to the birth machine and the huge disempowerment and disconnect women feel between their minds and bodies during the birth experience. BOLD is an attempt to start up a new dialogue about ways to create mother-friendly birth in our country, raising awareness through education, truth and action. Sounds like a good plan to me!
BOLD events are scheduled to occur in over twenty cities across the USA this Labor Day, as well as internationally in India, Malta, and Bermuda. If you live in the New York metro area, there are some fabulous BOLD events taking place, including talks with Dr. Christiane Northrup, Barbara Harper and Henci Goer, and of course a performance of Birth will take place. Check out the BOLD website for a full schedule of BOLD events, especially the ones in New York City.
