Birth has become deeply political, the reproductive care system shaped by hegemonic power structures, liberal capitalism, and technologization. But we do not have conversations about birth, it is not central to our culture, despite it being one of life’s most epic, transformative events.

Where are the pop songs about birth? (serious question). It's such a life-changing, emotional, epic event, why doesn't it take up a central space in our social and cultural lives?
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Birth is important. How we are born shapes in part how we will do later in life. And how a birth proceeds has a profound effect on our mothers, mentally, emotionally and physically.

So why don’t we have conversations about it? Why arent we as a society involved in shaping birth care?

Using science-fiction prototyping and speculative design we can experience the future impacts on ordinary people’s lives today and possibly build different futures. Will it hold artificial wombs, orgasmic birth devices, embryonic personhood, liberated birthing bodies, or all of the above?
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Watch highlights of the TEDx pitch by Marjolein Pijnappels about the Specultive Birth Futures project.

wondermash offers a space for curious and boundless exploration using insights from trans-disciplinarian research, future speculation and design. Reach out for collaborations and enquiries.