Future Posts

This will be the last post for a while. This blog has been for a course called Anthropology of the Body. I might write more posts and continue with this blog but for now I will leave you with three closing thoughts and subjects that I would like to consider in the future. 1) I would […]

Belly Art as Sites of Resistance

Want something to brighten your day? Check out this article about belly art: (Maternity Trend)! This article is from 2009 but the trend is still around, with a quick internet search yielding many results for how to hire a belly artist, and suggestions of themes! I have chosen a few images below of some pretty […]

The Body Politicized: Art Break

I went to Dismaland last September and one of the works on display was a vending machine with a fetus floating inside by artist Dietrich Wegner. Check out this video of Dismaland if interested: As people crowded around the display many were enraged or disgusted. Responses varied from stocic disapproval in the form of […]

Reproductive Technologies and Gene Editing

This month the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) authorized the gene editing of embryos for up to 14 days in the UK (Scientists get ‘gene editing’ go-ahead). While it will be illegal to implant any of the embryos into women’s bodies, this is a massive step for understanding how the alteration of genes affects the development of a […]

Google Search: “Cute Babies”

When I have googled “cute baby” and “cute babies” for this blog, my computer screen is almost immediately flooded with images that make my eyes water and my heart throb. However, I noticed that all of the babies Google presents to me are white. “Beautiful newborn” and “beautiful baby” present similar results. In fact here […]

Matching Microbes, Outdated binaries

Microorganisms: bacteria, fungi and single celled archaea live all around, on, and in humans.To learn more about microbes check this helpful link out: What are Microbes?. I came across this video interesting video (see below), which shows how after birth the microbiome of a baby’s gut resembles that of their mother’s vagina. This video […]

“The Risk is Real. Why Take the Chance?”

I wanted to write a post in response to the CDC’s recent recommendation that all women of childbearing age should refrain from drinking to reduce the potential of fetal alcohol syndrome and other complications. If you want to read a really passionate response to the CDC’s recommendations check out this post from the blog Birth […]

Embedded Babies, Embodied Births

I was born at home. I will birth my babies at home. My mother never considered an epidural. I passionately campaign against their use in conversations with friends. While the embodied practices of childbirth vary dramatically throughout the world, they are often reproduced from parent to child. For example, Deloache polled his students as […]

Growing up Human

This blog will focus on babies and infants and their political, economic and social lives. While each individual may have preconceived notions of what it means to conceive, carry, birth and then raise a baby, this “common sense” knowledge totally varies cross culturally (DeLoache & Gottlieb, 2000). While the CDC defines infants and babies […]