The Art of midwifery: Early modern midwives in Europe (The Wellcome Institute series in the history of medicine) - Hardcover

Hilary Marland

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415064252 ISBN 13: 9780415064255

Publisher: Routledge, 1993

Synopsis

The absorption of midwifery into medical practice is a recent development. In the western world this process has been linked to the diminishing role of the midwife, the greater involvement of male doctors in childbirth, and increasing hospitalization. However, while midwifery is recognized as a long-established female occupation, historians have focused on the decline of the midwife's prominence in obstetric work from the 19th century onwards. This book examines the profession of midwifery in the early modern period. It explores the period before the "decline" and challenges some of the long-held beliefs about the life, work and knowledge of midwives, as well as their place in public life. Drawing on a range of manuscript and printed sources from England, Holland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, the contributors reveal that the early modern period was a time of great diversity in midwives' status and practice throughout Europe. This period was neither a Golden Age for midwives, nor was it a time when midwifery was practised by aged, unskilled crones.

About this title

Review:

"This is the first book to examine midwives in the period before the much-discussed "decline" of midwifery in the nineteenth century, and examines the lives, work, and knowledge of Europes midwives, as well as their place in public life. . . .Many of the essays also explore the wider social, religious and political forces which had an impact on midwives, making the book very useful for those interested in women's history, the history of the family, the rise of state power, and popular religious culture, as well as medical history and medical sociology."
-"Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0415064252
• ISBN 13: 9780415064255
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 234