What started as a regular Sunday football match between Sivasspor and Fenerbahçe turned into a national talking point not for the game, but for a banner held by male players promoting natural birth over cesarean delivery.
The banner, part of a Health Ministry campaign, read:
“What’s natural is normal birth – Cesarean birth is not natural unless medically necessary.”
The message, displayed at a predominantly male-attended event, sparked immediate backlash. Critics including journalists and women’s rights groups called it tone-deaf and a clear case of “mansplaining” women’s health.
“In a stadium filled with men, why are women’s birth choices being debated?” asked one women’s platform on social media. Others pointed out that reproductive health is personal and not a topic for the football field.
Medical opinions are split. Some specialists argue natural birth can lower certain health risks, while others note that cesareans can be safer in many cases and offer more control.
One doctor highlighted that vaginal birth can lead to complications like postpartum incontinence or physical trauma making the choice far from black-and-white.
While the Health Ministry hasn’t responded yet, the incident has opened up a broader debate about how, where, and by whom conversations around women’s bodies should be held.
