Transabled women lost in translation?

n/

Des transformations « extrêmes » : Le cas de l’acquisition volontaire de handicaps pour (re)penser les solidarités entre les mouvements sociaux

Parmi les modifications corporelles existantes, les pratiques transcapacitaires, qui se définissent par le besoin, chez des personnes en situation de non-handicap, de transformer leur corps en vue d’acquérir un déficit physique/handicap (cécité, amputation, etc.), demeurent méconnues et controversées. Cet article se penche sur les pratiques des femmes transcapacitaires et les réactions négatives qu’elles suscitent, fondées sur des structures capacitistes, sexistes, hétéronormatives et classistes. À partir d’une approche intersectionnelle, nous soutenons que les catégories de sexe/genre, de sexualité et de classes se fondent sur un capacitisme, car leur construction est liée à certains codes (manière de bouger, de parler, etc.) présupposant des corps non handicapés. Sous cet angle, il est possible de penser que les réalités transcapacitaires suscitent des résistances puisqu’elles mettent au défi les normes capacitistes, mais également parce que ces transformations représentent une transgression des normes de sexe/genre, de sexualité et de classes dominantes. En se positionnant dans une situation de handicap, les femmes transcapacitaires et leurs pratiques « extrêmes » risquent davantage d’être dégenrées, désexualisées et marginalisées économiquement et socialement. Ces critiques des systèmes d’oppression sont l’occasion de (re)penser les solidarités entre les études et les mouvements féministes, queers, anticapacitistes et anticlassistes, tout en formulant une réponse respectueuse envers les revendications transcapacitaires.Among existing forms of body modification, transabled practices, defined as the need of a non-disabled person to transform his/her body to acquire a physical impairment/disability (blindness, amputation, etc.), remain controversial and little known. This article examines the practices of transabled women and the negative reactions founded on ableist, sexist, heteronormative, and classist structures they elicit. From an intersectional approach, we argue that the categories of sex/gender, sexuality, and class are grounded in ableism because their construction is linked to certain codes (ways of moving, speaking, etc.) that assume a non-disabled body. From this perspective, it is possible that transabled realities elicit resistance not only because they challenge ableist norms, but because these transformations represent transgressions of sex/gender, sexuality, and dominant class norms as well. Through the « extreme » transformation of becoming disabled, transabled women run a greater risk of being degendered, desexualized, and economically and socially marginalized. Analysis of these oppressive systems is an opportunity to (re)think solidarities among feminist, queer, anti-ableist, and anti-classist studies and movements while formulating a respectful response to transabled claims

Effect of vacuum-release teat versus standard teat use on feeding milestones and breastfeeding outcomes in very preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND:Breast milk is important to infant health, yet shorter breastfeeding duration is reported for preterm infants. Both breast and bottle feeds are given in the neonatal unit, with full oral feeding often the last milestone to be achieved prior to discharge home. Unlike standard bottle teats, a vacuum release teat requires the application of negative intra-oral pressure to release milk, and so may facilitate breastfeeding in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vacuum release teat use on timing of achievement of the first full oral feed and on first completion of 24 h full oral feeds. Feeding method at discharge home, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks corrected gestational age were also examined. METHODS:A randomized controlled trial was completed with mothers of preterm infants born 24-33 weeks gestation in the neonatal unit of a tertiary women's hospital. Infants were randomized to one of two parallel groups using a vacuum release teat or standard teat for oral feeds when the mother was not available to breastfeed. Test weights were completed for all oral feeds. It was not possible to blind participants, care givers and outcome assessors to group assignment due to the nature of the study. RESULTS:The groups did not differ with regard to timing of achievement of first full oral feed or 24 h of full oral feeds. Significantly more infants in the vacuum release teat group were exclusively fed breast milk at discharge from hospital and breastfed at 3 months corrected gestational age. CONCLUSIONS:Use of a vacuum release teat when the mother is not available to breastfeed may promote preterm breastfeeding skills, resulting in higher rates of exclusivity and longer breastfeeding duration. TRIAL REGISTRATION:The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000245594