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Targeted Anti-Natalism from Kaiser Permanente

Jill

Sociological Images has two versions of a Kaiser pamphlet for pregnant women. The English-language version congratulates the woman on her pregnancy, and lists a series of options (six different classes). The Spanish-language version says “You’re going to have a baby!” and invites the reader to three of the six classes offered to English-speakers: A series of pre-natal care classes, a hospital tour, and a class on sterilization. The English-language pamphlet mentions sterilization as one option among six; the Spanish-language pamphlet highlights it.

It’s a noteworthy addition to the conversations already happening in this thread.

8 thoughts on Targeted Anti-Natalism from Kaiser Permanente

  2. So pretty much if you’re a woman, socety wants the exact opposite for you than what you want for yourself. Got it.

    sigh

  3. The comments below the post are pretty interesting as well. Purpleshoes observation that translations of social services brochures also often involve simplifying the language, on the assumption that translated materials need to be accessible to people with more limited literacy and/or education (and ones for English speakers, I guess, do not?) lines up pretty well with my experience.

    It’s not totally clear to me whether the differences between the two brochures are driven by targeted anti-natalist beliefs on the part of the writers/translators or whether it’s driven by some unexamined (and obviously racist) assumptions that an English-speaking woman would just know what a tubal sterilization is while Spanish-speaking women need to have it explained for them. Either way, I suppose it may have the same effect.

  4. It looks to me like the first Spanish entry is actually a series of the four classes offered in English. It says “Four classes” at the end — they’re just taking the prenatal/labor/breastfeeding classes and listing them as one series.

    It also looks like the English one offers Lamaze classes for a fee, and the other classes are free. The Spanish one says all classes are free, and doesn’t mention Lamaze by name.

  5. I don’t believe sterilization was more highlighted on the Spanish brochure than the English one. It was equally highlighted to the other services offered with an explanation. They could have produced the English one first and then combined a couple of the classes and made the Spanish one, or perhaps they just don’t have enough Spanish speaking staff to teach these skills. I’ve seen pamphlets in doctor’s offices that were on the same subject, but just two different editions that looked different in similar ways to the KP ones(same language as I don’t speak the other predominant language in my area).

    I think this is really reaching to call it anti-natalist.

  6. It’s not reaching to point out something that is subtle. In the English version, there is a list of six options. In the Spanish version, the possibilities are laid out like a program: first you get prenatal information, then you visit the hospital, and finally you get a tubal ligation. This isn’t coercive, but it does present a clearer suggestion to be sterilized.

  7. Purpleshoes observation that translations of social services brochures also often involve simplifying the language, on the assumption that translated materials need to be accessible to people with more limited literacy and/or education (and ones for English speakers, I guess, do not?) lines up pretty well with my experience.”

    There’s often an assumption of a certain level of literacy– both ‘regular’ literacy and ‘health care’ literacy– in English health education materials that doesn’t always correspond to the realities on the ground.

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