When Good Women Remain Silent

“First they came for the breech birthers, and I did not speak out–because I was not a breech birther;

Then they came for the twins, and I did not speak out–because I was not carrying twins;

Then they came for the high risk women, and I did not speak out-because I was not a high risk woman;

Then they came for the VBACs, and I did not speak out– because I was not a VBAC;

Then they came for me– and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Taken from a talk by Laureen Hudson of California at the Trust Birth Conference (March 2010).

Inspired by this famous quote by Martin Neimoller:

In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me –
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

5 thoughts on “When Good Women Remain Silent

  1. Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to read right now. I am seeing so many friends making uninformed decisions when it comes to birthing and circumcision. I spend a lot of time reading and learning about birth but I have never given birth so I have felt strange speaking up about it. I am still trying to find a way to give information without making someone feel blamed for thier choices and this helps alot.

  2. How very true. We could add the ones who decide to “come to them”. I hope there will be more and more women making an INFORMED choice. Thank you for getting me educated Gloria!

  3. Thanks for the post. It is a hard thing for me to speak it out. I have spent years doing the things, which also took a lot of bucking the system. But speaking out I have not done much of thinking no one would want to hear….

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