The life force represents hope, and gives personal meaning to young women who may feel they have no purpose in life except to reproduce themselves. Everyone around this girl - her family, her village or neighbors, and the midwives and doctors who care for her - all feel relevant and proud when they become involved in this life force. Unfortunately, attitudes toward childbirth can progress from respect and awe at this force of nature, to one of suspicion and fear: for don't all forces of nature require management and conquest? Thus childbirth becomes something to control. A reason to bring on...