“This is not love. It’s sperm”: Pregnancy, autonomy, and resistance in the Norwegian experimental comedy Ninjababy

This article analyses the Norwegian experimental comedy Ninjababy through the dual lenses of care ethics and vulnerability studies, examining how it subverts normative narratives surrounding pregnancy, caregiving, and motherhood. Drawing on the work of feminist ethicists Eva Kittay, Sarah Clark Miller, Susan Dodds, and Judith Butler, the article foregrounds the role of reproductive autonomy and resistance. The film’s protagonist, Rakel, resists conventional maternal expectations and asserts her agency in the face of an unplanned pregnancy, demonstrating how vulnerability can be mobilised as a strategy of resistance. Through its innovative use of animation, Ninjababy visualises Rakel’s emotional states and critiques dominant assumptions about maternal instinct and self-sacrifice. The article situates the film within the broader socio-political and cultural context of Norway, a European country renowned for progressive gender legislation yet increasingly marked by pronatalist discourses and the centralisation of maternity care. These developments, coupled with institutional neglect of women’s health, generate what Dodds terms “pathogenic vulnerability” – a form of harm exacerbated by systems meant to mitigate it. Ninjababy dramatises these tensions, revealing how reproductive autonomy is shaped by cultural norms, healthcare structures, and legal frameworks. By framing care as a moral duty rather than an emotional disposition, the film redefines parental responsibility and foregrounds the psychological dimensions of pregnancy and adoption. It also critiques institutional adoption processes. Ultimately, Ninjababy offers a transgressive and emotionally resonant exploration of reproductive rights, using comedy and animation to provoke reflection on autonomy, vulnerability, and the ethical limits of care. The article argues that cultural artefacts such as Ninjababy play a critical role in fostering public debate and challenging entrenched norms in gendered caregiving and reproductive ethics.