Intro: 5:10
In this episode, I speak with Samantha Zipporah, reproductive justice activist and author of ‘Mapping The Yoniverse,’ a “sex and body positive, gender inclusive and affirming, physical and energy anatomy coloring book,” illustrated by Casandra Johns.
This interview with Samantha is about reclaiming what has been lost. When it comes to our bodily autonomy and knowledge of our own health, sexual or otherwise, we have, through a combination of historical and administrative processes, delegated that responsibility to the medical industry and to the state and the legislature. Samantha, in her years of work as a sex educator, doula, and activist, has worked diligently to demonstrate, for women and persons assigned female at birth, the numerous ways in which sovereignty can be attained over such bodily functions as menstruation, ovulation, miscarriage, abortion, full-term pregnancy, and childbirth. We all have these traditions of knowledge and wisdom in our lineages, even it has been obscured and seemingly lost on the path to modernity. Samantha’s work is about reclaiming that knowledge and providing the spaces for it to be practiced, and as I state in this episode, this is deeply important work we need to engage in in this time, now more than ever before.
“The cultural educational norm in the United States is complete ignorance of the value and physiology of women’s fertility. The ignorance and pathologizing of our fertility is a direct result of systematic oppression. The dominant paradigm of patriarchy and consumerism are inherently damaging to our autonomy and self awareness. Perpetuating ignorance, fear, and suppression of women’s fertility is highly profitable to those in power. The idea that women are incapable of understanding and responsibly managing our fertility is pervasive. Rather than integrating women and their biology, the arbiters of mainstream culture prefer to devalue, silence, and compartmentalize nature. Rather than learning to live in synergy with the feminine cycles of transformation that are inherent to the growth of all living things, the dominant paradigm worships control and stasis.” (http://bit.ly/2qhghY4)
Samantha Zipporah, over the past twenty years has studied and supported holistic approaches to healing menstrual and hormonal problems, sexual shame and stigma, and has been professional doula for pregnancies that end in birth, miscarriage, abortion, and infant loss. She serves her clients and community as a companion and caregiver in both clinical and home settings. She is the author of the ‘Holistic Healing After Miscarriage’ and ‘Holistic Healing After Abortion’ ebooks, and ‘Mapping The Yoniverse’ anatomy coloring book, illustrated by Casandra Johns (https://www.houseofhands.net). She is currently based in Boise, Idaho.
Episode Notes:
- Learn more about Samantha and her work: http://samanthazipporah.com
- Purchase ‘Mapping The Yoniverse’: http://samanthazipporah.com/mappingtheyoniverse
- Follow her on Facebook and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.zipporah / https://www.instagram.com/samanthazipporah
- The songs featured are “So Much Love” by Madwreck from the album Tokyo Dawn, and “Shine” performed by Samantha Zipporah: https://youtu.be/DYIjz_irHWg
