Narratives of Obstetric Violence: Conceptions of Power, Bodily Integrity, and Childbirth in Greek Women's Stories.

Abstract

This qualitative study examines women's narratives of obstetric violence in Greece, highlighting how power structures, medicalized childbirth, and cultural norms shape both the experience and normalization of such violence. By analyzing 63 participants' responses to an online survey with seven open-ended questions, the study applies thematic analysis and feminist phenomenology to explore how obstetric violence affects women's bodies, relations and self-perception. The findings reveal not only its pervasiveness and systematic invisibility, often justified as routine care, but also its entrenchment within sociocultural and institutional frameworks. However, it also identifies pathways for resistance and healing through community, advocacy, and collective action.