You Were Born in the Middle of a Pandemic
Disciplines
Other Theatre and Performance Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
In the era of COVID-19, the whole world has had to change what ‘normal’ days look like for communities. Specifically in the U.S., there have been seismic shifts in the way families operate, the way mothers connect, and the way women have relationships with others and self. My monologue details the unique experience of moving through pregnancy and motherhood in a time of seeing only eyes and people living in immense fear. I am a mother and I speak to the generation being born to mothers right now. These babies will experience all of these major shifts as their normal experience and so I want to leave a piece of that out in the world with my words. Mothers are trying to help their new babies ‘cope’ with this new life and yet, they are not coping. They are existing. Moms are coping. Motherhood is changing. I place some personal historical reference around what it was like to have a baby in the middle of a pandemic. I shed light on the experience through a monologue that is looking out of the eyes of a mother who was blindsided by the world while pregnant with her daughter. I give voice to the intimate moments and share the history that was written as it happened so that these “covid babies” have a glimpse of how we experienced the birth of this new generation.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
COTA - Theatre and Performance Studies
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Fish
You Were Born in the Middle of a Pandemic
In the era of COVID-19, the whole world has had to change what ‘normal’ days look like for communities. Specifically in the U.S., there have been seismic shifts in the way families operate, the way mothers connect, and the way women have relationships with others and self. My monologue details the unique experience of moving through pregnancy and motherhood in a time of seeing only eyes and people living in immense fear. I am a mother and I speak to the generation being born to mothers right now. These babies will experience all of these major shifts as their normal experience and so I want to leave a piece of that out in the world with my words. Mothers are trying to help their new babies ‘cope’ with this new life and yet, they are not coping. They are existing. Moms are coping. Motherhood is changing. I place some personal historical reference around what it was like to have a baby in the middle of a pandemic. I shed light on the experience through a monologue that is looking out of the eyes of a mother who was blindsided by the world while pregnant with her daughter. I give voice to the intimate moments and share the history that was written as it happened so that these “covid babies” have a glimpse of how we experienced the birth of this new generation.