Abstract

This article seeks for a sociological explanation with regard to the existence of home confinements in Flanders, where the process of giving birth is medicalized and where more than 99% of all deliveries take place in a hospital. The theory of (de)medicalization and Ulrich Beck’s theory of reflexive modernization provide interesting insights. Statistical analyses on gathered data (mail survey amongst 292 women who gave birth at home + 400 women who gave birth in the hospital) show that the social-cultural and -structural characteristics and the pre- and postnatal behaviour of women who preferred a home delivery differ significantly from those of women who prefer a hospital delivery. In particular, evidence is found for the confirmation of the hypothesis that women who give birth at home can be described as prototypes of the late-modern individualized individual who challenges hegemonic forms of authoritative knowledge. This explains why they can choose for a home delivery within a societal context where this kind of deliveries is defined as non-conform social behaviour.

How to Cite:

Gilleir, C., (2007) “Thuis bevallen in Vlaanderen: een kwestie van reflexiviteit”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 28(1), 25–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86672