Language, labour and ideology Constructing epistemologies of childbirth in the first three centuries of English-language midwifery texts (1540–1800)

Whitt, Richard J.

Abstract

Writings on midwifery and women’s medicine related to childbirth reflect the many changes affecting this field during the Early Modern period, which in turn reflect changes in epistemological values Through the lens of critical discourse analysis, this paper discusses existing and emergent ideological demarcations between the wide range of midwifery texts published between 1500 and 1800 through a qualitative examination of prefatory material in these texts. It is shown that the earliest midwifery texts make much recourse to the authoritative knowledge of classical authors, following the tradition of medieval Scholasticism. As female midwives enter the textual scene, personal experience and empathy become valued sources of knowledge. Finally, the emergence of ‘man-midwives’ led to scientific prowess combined with personal experience touted as the most superior form of knowledge relating to the care of parturient women.

Citation

Whitt, R. J. (2022). Language, labour and ideology Constructing epistemologies of childbirth in the first three centuries of English-language midwifery texts (1540–1800). In T. Hiltunen, & I. Taavitsainen (Eds.), Corpus Pragmatic Studies on the History of Medical Discourse (179-202). John Benjamins Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.330.08whi

• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 16, 2023
• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing
• Pages: 179-202
• Series Title: Pragmatics and Beyond New Series
• Series Number: 330
• Book Title: Corpus Pragmatic Studies on the History of Medical Discourse
• Chapter Number: 8
• ISBN: 9789027211101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.330.08whi
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5099276
• Publisher URL: https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns.330
• Related Public URLs: https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns
• Additional Information: Language, labour and ideology: Constructing epistemologies of childbirth in the first three centuries of English-language midwifery texts (1540-1800) in Corpus Pragmatic Studies on the History of Medical Discourse, edited by Turo Hiltunen and Irma Taavitsainen, pp. 179-202. https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns.330.08whi
• Contract Date: Dec 3, 2020