Pooping together Ordinary practices, philosophical interferences

In my work, “Pooping together, ordinary practices, philosophical interferences” I explore the seemingly mundane and natural process of pooping through a philosophical and anthropological lens, challenging conventional understandings of bodily needs.
Focusing on the everyday experiences of children and caregivers in the Netherlands, it interrogates two dominant views: pooping as a purely biological process governed by natural sciences, and as a marginal, morally charged subject. By examining practices such as diaper changing, potty training, and bodily care, the study reveals the substantial work involved in maintaining a "normal" body, arguing that all bodies—regardless of health or ability—require continuous effort. Drawing on critical disability studies, the work emphasizes the relational and learned aspects of pooping, contesting notions of bodily independence and highlighting interdependencies in bodily care. The dissertation also engages with ethical questions, particularly through the role of diapers, to critique universalizing ethical approaches to waste. Instead, it offers a notion of "disposable goods," suggesting that values are fluid and must be negotiated within the complexity of daily life. The final chapter challenges the centrality of disgust in anthropological studies of pooping, proposing instead a cultivation of informal familiarity with bodily processes. This shift in sensibility allows for a more inclusive and playful engagement with the everyday realities of living with a body. Overall, the dissertation advocates for a reorientation toward the ordinary, underscoring the interdependent, learned, and ongoing nature of bodily maintenance.