Unveiling the History of Resistance: Childbearing Strike for Better Working Conditions Exhibition

This content explores the historical use of a 'childbearing strike' as a political and social weapon, predating early 20th-century discussions. It highlights the case of Maria Sibylla Merian documenting its use in Suriname in 1700 by enslaved women to resist exploitation.

The concept of a 'childbearing strike' as a political and social weapon is explored, revealing its roots to be much older than commonly believed. While often associated with early 20th-century labor movements, historical accounts suggest its use much earlier. In 1700, artist and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian documented enslaved women in Suriname using the seeds of the Caesalpinia pulcherrima plant to induce abortions, thereby protesting their mistreatment and preventing their children from suffering the same fate. This practice emerged during a period when slave owners sought to exploit female slaves as 'childbearing machines' due to difficulties in procuring new laborers as abolitionist sentiments grew in Europe. The Caesalpinia pulcherrima, known also as the Poinciana or Peacock Flower, was utilized for its abortifacient properties. While the plant was brought to Europe and cultivated in important gardens, the knowledge of its use in terminating pregnancies was not widely recognized by European botanists at the time. The text also touches upon the desperate measures taken by enslaved Africans to escape their brutal conditions, including self-inflicted harm and a belief in reincarnation for a free life.