Obstetric (Racism) Violence: Settler Colonialism and Reproductive Injustice Against Indigenous Women in Canada

Abstract

Indigenous women in Canada experience unparalleled violence in reproductive healthcare. This reality is deeply enmeshed in systems of oppression rooted in sexism, racism, and settler colonialism. The most prominent manifestations of this on Indigenous maternal health are forced and coerced sterilizations, verbal abuse, forced evacuated births, and the now-discontinued practice of birth alerts. In the women’s global health arena, medical anthropologists and scholars in related disciplines recognize these issues as obstetric violence. However, explicit studies on obstetric violence affecting Indigenous Canadian women are limited in anthropology and beyond. Thus, this paper explores and analyzes the racialized obstetric violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada. It examines how settler colonialism shapes reproductive health policies and practices—often culminating in violence—which differs from the experiences of other racialized groups (e.g., Black and Asian women) in light of Canada’s unique socio-political context and history, warranting focused attention.