About A Womb of Their Own
A Womb of Their Own introduces a charismatic, funny, thoughtful group of masculine-of-center-identified people who experience pregnancy. Each individual and couple navigates gender expectations, even from the LGBT community, that don’t fit their experience of themselves. Follow their stories as they establish and celebrate their own unique gender, develop their definition of family, grow a baby in their bodies, and birth, chestfeed and parent their children.
Universities, colleges and collections
A Womb of Their Own takes the evolving transgender conversation beyond the binary construct. Through exposure to people whose visual presentation alone (e.g. a beard and pregnant belly juxtaposed) begins to deconstruct culturally imposed beliefs, students gain a cellular understanding of this radical evolution in our concept of gender. The engaging, articulate individuals in the film talk intimately about their gender identity, their separate sexuality, their culture, their families, their challenges in medical care and conflicts within their own community. Students of various identities find themselves relating to the need to be treated respectfully and to be true to themselves. This visual, emotional experience of humanity within gender diversity helps students integrate the academic concepts they're studying.
A Womb of Their Own takes the evolving transgender conversation beyond the binary construct. Through exposure to people whose visual presentation alone (e.g. a beard and pregnant belly juxtaposed) begins to deconstruct culturally imposed beliefs, students gain a cellular understanding of this radical evolution in our concept of gender. The engaging, articulate individuals in the film talk intimately about their gender identity, their separate sexuality, their culture, their families, their challenges in medical care and conflicts within their own community. Students of various identities find themselves relating to the need to be treated respectfully and to be true to themselves. This visual, emotional experience of humanity within gender diversity helps students integrate the academic concepts they're studying.
MIDWIVES, DOULAS, MEDICAL AND GESTATIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND CAREGIVERS
Gestational and healthcare providers are increasingly expected to understand the language, culture and needs of trans and non-binary people and families who come to them for care. This can be an intimidating expectation, with little to read and few classes to take that will prepare providers for this population. A Womb of Their Own is a valuable resource for meeting this need. Viewers get practice letting go of assumptions about gender identity based on how someone looks, and become familiar with the language, culture and daily lives of genderqueer families.
LGBTQI Communities
Many genderqueer people have come up to me after watching A Womb of Their Own with tears of validation in their eyes, telling me what a relief it is to see non-binary people on screen. They tell me that watching the subjects celebrate their genders helped them feel better about being exactly who they are. Those who want children feel hopeful about their ability to create the families they want. Delightfully, I've also heard from many cisgender people that they were surprised how immediately captivated they were by the subjects and how much they learned. They and I were both surprised how much they absolutely loved the film!
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
After 25 years of doing psychotherapy, and writing both poetry and professional articles and books, I went to school to learn writing, directing, editing and producing film. I made my first narrative short, The Fifth Stage of Labor, and was delighted when it went to multiple film festivals!
As a filmmaker and birth parent whose gender defies categories, I wanted to make A Womb of Their Own so that more people like me could embrace their uniqueness, and not feel pressure to perform a gender to fit cultural expectations. I hoped I would also disturb the culture-bound assumptions people have about gender, so that oppressive beliefs may at least be softened and understanding expanded. This is the impact I want to have as I travel with the film and facilitate discussions with people about the many topics the film evokes.
A Womb of Their Own took three years to make and is being requested all over the world. The trailer alone has been seen in over 125 countries, and the film has screened at numerous film festivals, several universities as well as medical and community forums. I feel very lucky to be able to express my creativity and also help so many people with this film!
Cyn Lubow, Director
After 25 years of doing psychotherapy, and writing both poetry and professional articles and books, I went to school to learn writing, directing, editing and producing film. I made my first narrative short, The Fifth Stage of Labor, and was delighted when it went to multiple film festivals!
As a filmmaker and birth parent whose gender defies categories, I wanted to make A Womb of Their Own so that more people like me could embrace their uniqueness, and not feel pressure to perform a gender to fit cultural expectations. I hoped I would also disturb the culture-bound assumptions people have about gender, so that oppressive beliefs may at least be softened and understanding expanded. This is the impact I want to have as I travel with the film and facilitate discussions with people about the many topics the film evokes.
A Womb of Their Own took three years to make and is being requested all over the world. The trailer alone has been seen in over 125 countries, and the film has screened at numerous film festivals, several universities as well as medical and community forums. I feel very lucky to be able to express my creativity and also help so many people with this film!
Cyn Lubow, Director