Reproductive Rights?

Yesterday I went to hear Jennifer Block the author of "Pushed" speak about the 8 Painful Truths about Childbirth. Let me first say to everyone out there whether you have anything to do with women's health care or not: Read this book. Especially if you are considering having a baby.
Ok, so Ms. Block went on to discuss the usual cesarean rate, rising maternal mortality rate in the US,VBAC bannings etc. Then her last 'painful truth' was this:"Where is the Outrage?" Why aren't women in the US absolutely fit to be tied that these things go on and why aren't we clamoring to do something about it?
Now this was ever so slightly touched on by the briefest of comments but it is a notion that begs more attention and which I have been thinking about ever since. Where is the feminist movement? Why is birth, the most basic of feminine function not addressed as a reproductive rights issue? We put all our eggs in the pro-choice basket, and yes I see how at risk we are of losing our right to choose and how important that is, but I truly believe that women attempting a VBAC have the right to refuse a cesarean which is "required" simply because that hospital in which their provider practices has banned VBAC's. It boggles the mind how bright, intelligent women who would never consider investing some money without first doing all her research, reviewing the prospectus and weighing all the financial risks and benefits, simply throw the fate of their bodies and their babies into the hands of their care provider without taking the time to research what will happen to their bodies with that particular care provider.
The bottom line is, that despite all our forward momentum for women's rights,some of us still fundamentally believe that our bodies are lemons and that we need saving.
We need to work on this. Women need education. Not the kind where we sit in class on a mat learning relaxation techniques. The kind where you turn on the TV and you see Barbara Walters showing us exactly what the risks of cesarean are when it is unnecessary. The kind where after watching it you turn to your partner on the couch and say, "Oh, my god, is that true? Does that really happen?" and you go out and read a book. Women should not have to do scholarly research to find this stuff out. It should be mainstream. Just like it is in Great Britain, and Germany and in Sweden and the Netherlands and.....
*sigh*
enough soapbox for one day.