Birth Cultures — Feminist Perspectives on Birth and Care

Birth Cultures was a Creative Europe cooperation project (2019–2022) exploring the cultural, social, and political dimensions of birth, reproductive experiences, and parenthood. 

The project originated from the exhibition geburtskultur. vom gebären und geboren werden at the Women’s Museum Hittisau (Austria, frauenmuseum.at/geburtskultur) developed in collaboration with IG Geburtskultur A–Z. The exhibition opened new perspectives on birth as a deeply personal, social, and cultural experience, bringing together historical research, contemporary debates, art, and feminist approaches to care and bodily autonomy. 

© Women`s Museum Hittisau / Angela Lamprecht

The project was led by Interarts (Spain). The International Association of Women’s Museums (IAWM) participated as an associated partner, connecting museums and cultural actors across Europe. Active project partners included the Women’s Museum Hittisau (Austria, frauenmuseum.at), the Gender Museum Kharkiv(Ukraine, gendermuseum.com/en/), the Women’s Museum Merano (Italy, museia.it), and Interarts (Spain), which presented the exhibition at La Bonne – Casa de Dones Francesca Bonnemaison in Barcelona (Spain). 

© Women`s Museum Hittisau / Angela Lamprecht

© Women`s Museum Hittisau / Angela Lamprecht

Only a few months after the exhibition opened in Kharkiv, Russia’s war against Ukraine began, forcing the Gender Museum to close its doors. 

Following its presentation in Hittisau, the exhibition travelled to the Women’s Museum Mernao (Italy), the Gender Museum Kharkiv (Ukraine) and the Women’s Museum Fürth (Germany, frauenindereinenwelt.de), continuing the international dialogue on birth cultures, reproductive knowledge, and feminist perspectives on care. 

Curators: Anka Dür, Stefania Pitscheider Soraperra & Brigitta Soraperra / Designers: Sabrina Summer & Nina Sturn