The body in the hands of the system: Women, childbirth, and invisible violence

This paper explores obstetric violence as a distinct form of violence against women, drawing on phenomenological and feminist perspectives on the female body during childbirth. Through qualitative analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with women who gave birth in public and private hospitals in Serbia, the study examines experiences of invisibility, loss of control, silencing, and verbal or physical aggression during labour. Findings point to systemic forms of violence that are normalised under the guise of medical routine and professional authority. In the contemporary medical context, childbirth is increasingly experienced as a depersonalised process, where women are objectified and excluded from decision-making about their own bodies. Using concepts of embodied subjectivity and feminist theories of reproductive control, the paper argues that obstetric violence is not an anomaly but part of a broader socio-medical regime of disciplining women?s bodies. The study concludes that recognising and politically articulating birth experiences is essential for advancing women?s reproductive rights and dignity within the healthcare system.