Abstract

A classic model in anthropology is the obstetric dilemma: because of opposing evolutionary pressures on the human pelvis for walking upright and giving birth to large brained infants, human childbirth must necessarily be dangerous and difficult. In recent years, this widely accepted explanation has been challenged from multiple directions: is a narrow pelvis necessary for efficient walking? What is the role of developmental plasticity in shaping the pelvis and how does this play into the dilemma? Surely successful childbirth is at the front line of natural selection, so why has the ‘dilemma’ not been resolved? This reading gives an overview of some of these debates, and considers their real-world implications, including how cultural trends both shape narratives about women’s bodies, and how this might impact childbirth and the treatment of mothers and their babies today.

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