Modern German Midwifery, 1885–1960

“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

• Chapter 1 Introduction: Authority, Expertise and German Midwifery's Contribution to Debates of Nature Versus Science; Chapter 1a Expertise, Authority and the Written Record: An Overview of Midwives' Evolving Role in the Public Sphere; Chapter 2 From Storchtanten to Gebildete Frauen : The Roots of Modern Professionalization; Chapter 3 Birthing under the Swastika: Indoctrinating Midwives into the Nazi Pro-Natalist State; Chapter 4 Strong Hands and Steady Demeanour: Identifying the Characteristics of an Ideal Midwifery Student; Chapter 5 Babies, Bottles and Bureaucracy: Course Curriculum and Essential Knowledge for a Midwife; Chapter 6 The Art and Science of Childbirth: Constructing Midwifery and Obstetrical Textbooks; Chapter 8 Conclusion: Modern Professional Midwifery;