Weighing Expectations: A Postcolonial Feminist Critique of Exercise Recommendations during Pregnancy

• Main Authors: Francine E Darroch, Audrey R Giles
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Canada; First Nations
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1046.260; http://www.pimatisiwin.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/04Darroch.pdf

Abstract In this paper we use postcolonial feminist theory to examine current physical activity guidelines for pregnant women in Canada. We argue that these guidelines marginalize pregnant First Nations women in a number of ways: a lack of cultural consideration or representation of First Nations women; recommendations and interven tions that rely on Eurocentric epistemologies and biomed ical discourses; the use of dominant neoliberal notions of personal responsibility for health; and physical and financial barriers to the guidelines. As physical activity is an important contributor to positive maternal health outcomes, and as First Nations women are at particular risk of excess weight gain during pregnancy, we argue that existing guidelines need to be reflective of First Nations women's needs. Further, the creation of culturally safe physical activity resources for pregnant First Nations women may enable them to avoid excess weight gain during pregnancy and thus improve maternal health. In this paper, we offer a postcolonial feminist cri tique of existing physical activity guidelines for preg nant women in Canada. Using a postcolonial femin ist approach, we elucidate the ways in which First Nations women are marginalized through a lack of cultural consideration or representation of First Nations women; recommendations and interven tions that rely on Eurocentric epistemologies and biomedical discourses; the use of dominant neo liberal notions of personal responsibility for health; and physical and financial barriers to the guide lines. Postcolonial feminist theory is a productive approach to the issues of physical activity promo tion and obesity prevention among pregnant First Nations women: it addresses historical positioning, class, race, gender, and the overall impact these forces have on women. In an article entitled "Don't just tell us we're fat," Lavalee (2011) calls for the use of theoretical frameworks that are more holistic and inclusive of Aboriginal ways of knowing and account for cultural ...