Midwifery as an Exception to the Idea that Women's Work was Unskilled in Early Modern Europe
Date
2025
Authors
Gorman, Leah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Saint Vincent University
Abstract
In early modern Europe, women played a vital role in supporting their families, yet their labour was often dismissed as domestic and unskilled. Despite the necessity of both husbands' and wives' contributions - whether in farming, artisanal trades, or household economies - women’s work was not considered productive and was rarely compensated on the same level as men’s. Midwifery, however, stood apart. Midwives possessed specialized knowledge that regularly saved the lives of mothers and infants, making childbirth one of the few domains where women's expertise was both recognized and relied upon.