Beyond Birth: Somali Women on Womanhood, Care, and Becoming

By: Fardowsa Dahir

Beyond Birth: Somali Women on Womanhood and Becoming is a qualitative project that explores how Somali women understand girlhood and womanhood across generations and lived experiences. The project began with a focus on reproductive justice, particularly access to care, childbirth, motherhood, and bodily autonomy. As interviews unfolded, it became clear that participants did not experience reproduction as a discrete part of their lives. Conversations about birth and motherhood were inseparable from broader reflections on gender expectations. Following participants’ lead, the project expanded to ask a more foundational question: what does becoming a woman mean for Somali women?

Drawing on ten semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of Somali women, Beyond Birth centers participant voices in a short, nonlinear zine created in collaboration with a visual artist, Mariam Khan (@Mzkart_).

You can view the archive with the stunning artwork by clicking the link below!