A Rights-Based Approach to the Script and Choreography of the Birthing Scene

Obstetric violence is reported worldwide; we aimed to explore women's childbirth experiences, including those recalled many years later, through their own accounts and those of companions, fostering meaningful participant involvement. Totally, 86 students and teachers from 5 Argentinean adult schools participated in group interviews; 18 more contributed to refining the emerging analytical categories. Within "the birthing scene," we analyzed discursive elements ("script") and their manifestations in space ("choreography"). Findings show how these cultural patterns shape interactions, limiting women's options for action and for memory. We propose script and choreography can leave deep marks on women's life paths, exceeding the scene as a mental load.