Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960 (Studies for the Society for the Social History of Medicine)

Book info: Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960 (Studies for the Society for the Social History of Medicine) (Hardcover, 288 pages) – Routledge, 2013. Language: English.

Between the late 18th and the early 20th century, the industrialized world experienced a transition in birth practices. While in many countries this led to a separation of midwifery from modern medicine, in Germany new standards of health care were embraced. Fallwell’s study explores this transition and sets it in its wider historical context. Editorial Reviews Review

“What is particularly insightful about this book is that it invites us to think of the existing records. The author not only draws attention to power politics inscribed in the process by which the written record linked to midwifery was produced, but also discusses how this process itself ultimately served to disempower midwives as a profession, despite midwives’ active participation in professionalizing themselves. The author skilfully maps out the intricate links between the politics of text production and the politics of making midwifery a profession. This is a book that will have a lasting impact on the ever-growing scholarship of the history of midwives and midwifery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I think you will too.” - Aya Homei, University of Manchester, The British Journal for the History of Science

About the Author Lynne Fallwell