Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline

Although midwives were incorporated into the administrative system governing the conditions of birth delivery, female midwifery became the target of verbal attacks from the leading authorities of scientific medicine. Physicians addressed midwives often with superior hostility. In professional medic...

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Main Author: Vladan Hanulík
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: University of Pardubice 2020-11-01
Series:Theatrum Historiae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://theatrum.upce.cz/index.php/theatrum/article/view/1895
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author Vladan Hanulík
author_facet Vladan Hanulík
author_sort Vladan Hanulík
collection DOAJ
description Although midwives were incorporated into the administrative system governing the conditions of birth delivery, female midwifery became the target of verbal attacks from the leading authorities of scientific medicine. Physicians addressed midwives often with superior hostility. In professional medical journals, the opinion was repeatedly represented by articles accentuating the archaic element of midwives’ obstetric practice and, in particular, the lack of education and subsequent ability to absorb modern knowledge to improve obstetric practice. Professional discourse was constantly questioning the female midwives’ capabilities, which, together with constantly increasing number of female midwives, resulted in the lack of guaranteed financial support for female midwives’ professional practice. Thus, as a profession, midwifery mostly could not provide an opportunity in terms of economic and social independence.
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issn 1802-2502
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series Theatrum Historiae
spelling doaj-art-3d4449c454974235960764fe9c6539512025-01-24T18:28:10ZcesUniversity of PardubiceTheatrum Historiae1802-25022571-06212020-11-0125Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the DeclineVladan Hanulík0University of Pardubice Although midwives were incorporated into the administrative system governing the conditions of birth delivery, female midwifery became the target of verbal attacks from the leading authorities of scientific medicine. Physicians addressed midwives often with superior hostility. In professional medical journals, the opinion was repeatedly represented by articles accentuating the archaic element of midwives’ obstetric practice and, in particular, the lack of education and subsequent ability to absorb modern knowledge to improve obstetric practice. Professional discourse was constantly questioning the female midwives’ capabilities, which, together with constantly increasing number of female midwives, resulted in the lack of guaranteed financial support for female midwives’ professional practice. Thus, as a profession, midwifery mostly could not provide an opportunity in terms of economic and social independence. https://theatrum.upce.cz/index.php/theatrum/article/view/1895history of medicinephysiciansCzech lands19th–20th centurymidwives
spellingShingle Vladan Hanulík
Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
Theatrum Historiae
history of medicine
physicians
Czech lands
19th–20th century
midwives
title Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
title_full Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
title_fullStr Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
title_full_unstemmed Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
title_short Female Midwifery in the Czech Lands 1850–1950: A Career on the Decline
title_sort female midwifery in the czech lands 1850 1950 a career on the decline
topic history of medicine
physicians
Czech lands
19th–20th century
midwives
url https://theatrum.upce.cz/index.php/theatrum/article/view/1895
work_keys_str_mv AT vladanhanulik femalemidwiferyintheczechlands18501950acareeronthedecline