Maynooth workshop
Research workshop:
Challenging the medical monopoly of childbirth: birth activism in Ireland
Panel discussion: participatory action research and social movements
Wednesday April 7th, 2 - 4 pm
Seminar room, Auxilia building, north campus, NUI Maynooth
(see maps at http://www.nuim.ie/location/maps/index.shtml)
Christina Bermingham (DCU and NUIM) is carrying out PhD research into the practice of birth
activists in Ireland, ranging from those campaigning for better funding for maternity services in
hospitals to home birth networks. The first part of the workshop presents preliminary findings
and issues arising in her research, which is being carried out on a participatory action research
model.
The second part of the workshop is a panel discussion on the strengths and problems of
participatory action research in practice, with Christina Bermingham, Jean Bridgeman (community
education with drug users), Hilary Darcy (the policing of protest), David Landy (Jewish diaspora
opposition to Israel) and Asia Rutkowska (the politics of visual identity in social centres). The
discussion will be chaired by Laurence Cox.
The workshop is free and open to all. There is no need to book in advance.