It’s Day 8 of the LVMC Podcast Block Party, and today’s feature is Of Black Wombhood, a show that shares and preserves oral histories about wombs and the experiences tied to them. But wait, my childfree friends, there’s something for you here too!
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Don’t be fooled by the title: this podcast isn’t about motherhood, but about the complex, often untold stories connected to the womb space. Through this work, Tanya’s creating an archive that uplifts voices too often left out of the conversation.
If you’re in Philly, you can even catch the project featured in local exhibitions!
“Of Black Wombhood (OBW) is an independently-produced oral history project that invites us to think more imaginatively about wombs with respect to the Black body. In the OBW universe, wombs represent stories about gender, self-preservation, creativity, loss, and so much more. OBW currently features 10 oral history vignettes that introduce its listeners to a different storyteller’s revelations or memories regarding their own wombhood.”
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Additional reading
Want more discussion on this topic? Check out these complementary blog posts by joining the Super Cheveritas, or read them directly on Substack. It’s like if a blog and a newsletter had a baby, but it’s childfree!🤩
Transcript created with Descript. Learn more.
Transcript
[00:00] Paulette: Hey mis amigues. Welcome to day eight of the LVMC podcast block party. I’m Paulette Erato, the host of La Vida Más Chévere de Childfree Latinas, and also the birthday girl. You probably saw the title of this and now you’re thinking, Paulette, why are you recommending a podcast about wombs to your childfree listeners?
[00:21] Well, because one, it’s a show that shares oral histories about wombs, which we all came from. And two, I love what host Tanya is doing in creating an archive for these stories. Stories that might not otherwise ever see the light of day. To further that mission, OBW is also part of two exhibitions in Philadelphia.
[00:40] So if you’re in the area, you should check those out too. Links for them are in the show notes now. Please enjoy Of Black Wombhood.
[00:53] Tanya: My womb, which is the site of the production of so much of what’s now wandering around in the world that’s connected to me and not just my children, but my great ideas are situated in that place. Hi, my name is Tanya. And, can we get personal for a moment? I wanna talk about wombs. I’m a black womb bearer who often questioned my womb’s value because I’ve never wanted to give birth.
[01:19] And having to endure endometriosis for years also affected my relationship to my womb. I resented it. Maternity is not tied to my femininity or my womanhood, my wombhood. Its sheer story, can’t be about menstruation and having or not having babies, so I have to reclaim it. Is it just not useful? A few years ago, my friend invited me to a black wombhood supper club where a small group of friends exchanged really intimate womb stories with one another.
[01:51] A few were about birth and motherhood, but most weren’t. And I was particularly moved by personal accounts of loss, perimenopause, and infertility. I didn’t internalize how special that womb space was until I started meeting women who could not hold children, who could not conceive children. That evening inspired me to explore this notion of wombhood more deeply, and I wondered, what does wombhood mean to other black womb bearers?
[02:19] Does the womb play a role in defining one’s personal identity? How is wombhood connected to things like black history, our social politics, healthcare, sexuality, or even gender? Uncovering the fact that I’m not a woman. I feel like I had to combat wombhood and femininity a lot just to feel comfortable in my body.
[02:39] So me accepting the fact that I am a trans man allowed a lot more space for me to feel feminine and lean into my femininity. Welcome to Of Black Wombhood, an oral history project about the experiences of black womb bearers beyond pregnancy and birthing. OBW features a small group of black Philly based narrators who reflect on their own personal womb stories.
[03:05] And I invite you to join us as we contemplate black wombhood with greater curiosity, imagination, and care. You may listen to these stories now online at the black wombhood project.com.
[03:17] Paulette: Hey mira! If you love this trailer as much as I did, then seriously go subscribe to the show right now. All the links to do that are in the show notes. Y no se te olvide, this is all part of my birthday celebration, so keep tuning in every weekday to discover new podcasts you might enjoy. And of course if you’ve got thoughts, dígame! DM me on Instagram or send me a text from your phone right now.[03:48] There’s always a link in the show notes for that too. Muchísimas gracias for celebrating my birthday with me. Y hasta la próxima vez, that’s a burrito.
