Key research themes
1. How did the medicalization and professionalization of childbirth evolve, and what were the gender dynamics involved?
This theme investigates the historical process by which childbirth, traditionally a female-led practice assisted by midwives, became a medically dominated field, primarily controlled by male physicians. It considers the shifts in authority, training, and practice between traditional midwives, graduated midwives, and male obstetricians across different countries and centuries. Understanding these dynamics is vital to comprehend how obstetrics as a medical specialty emerged and the gendered implications of this transition.
2. What role did technological innovations and emerging medical practices play in shaping obstetric authority and interventions from the 17th to the 20th century?
This theme focuses on the introduction and evolution of obstetric technologies—such as forceps, vacuum extractors, caesarean sections, and early scientific contraceptive testing—and their impact on clinical practice, medical authority, and childbirth outcomes. It addresses how these technological developments influenced physician power in the birthing room, shifted the perception of childbirth as a medicalized event, and shaped health policies internationally.
3. How have national health policies and cultural contexts influenced the medicalization and management of childbirth over the 19th and 20th centuries?
This theme addresses the interplay between health authority initiatives, socio-political factors, cultural attitudes, and institutional policies in shaping childbirth practices and the extent of medical intervention. It tracks specific country-level case studies exploring attempts to regulate obstetric interventions, control medicalization, and their outcomes amid evolving maternal mortality trends.