- Introduction
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International conference History od Midwives 1850-1950 (Kutná Hora 2018)
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RESEARCH GOALS
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RESEARCH TEAM
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Grantový projekt porodní báby
Research project administrator:
Milena Lenderová
The submitted three-year research project is based on an analytical ground of ´”new” prosopography, which involves the collection of evidence of historical development of social and professional status of midwives in Czech lands during the years 1804-1948, followed by its critical analysis and interpretation on the methodological ground exceeding the field of historical science.
Methodology and concept:
The phenomenon of midwifery in the context of modernization in a society of the last two centuries of the Czech history is structured in the project as application of prosopography as both quantitative and qualitative method of analysis. As L. Stone declared: “prosopography is the investigation of the common background characteristics of a group of actors in history by means of a collective study of their lives” (STONE, 1971). In consideration of the research issues we recognize as most useful the analytical approach inspired by the prosopographical study based on the notion of “field”, defined by P. Bourdieu (BOURDIEU, 1979). The prime objective will be to understand to the changing position of the midwifery, not only as a skilled profession, but as a specific social structure itself – in terms of Bourdieu as a field, which gives sociological meaning to the trajectories and destiny of the individuals (KEATS-ROHAN, K.S.B, 2007).
Project team members will observe changes in the position of midwives in the period from the early 19th to the half of the 20th century; the scope of their traditional integrity within the two centuries and gradual loss of identity and independence forcing the profession representatives to re-constitute the forms of gaining their recognition and the necessity to derive individual respect not from their practical skills but from formal education. The key element of this research will be the analysis of the distribution and use of different types of capital and within also the changes in habitus of midwives during the process of modernization of their professional status.
GRANT SUPPORT
Research project recieved funding from the Czech Science Foundation GAČR Nr. 17-14082S for the duration of three years 1/2017-12/2019.
History of Midwives 1800-1950: Social, Cultural and Economic Aspects of the Professionalization of Childbirth
Place: Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
Venue: Dačický House, Kutná Hora, Komensky Square No. 41
Organizer: Department of History, University of Pardubice
Date: 1.11.-2.11.2018
Deadline for conference proposals: 30.8.2018
The phenomenon of midwifery has been studied in the past decades often as a part of the process of modernization of society. Within this paradigm, the history of obstetrics was characterized as a permanent development of scientific knowledge, professionalization of the performance of childbirth assistance and masculinization of the obstetric profession.
In hosting this conference, the organizers primary objective is to stimulate a discussion about changing position of the midwifery and female midwives in the modern era not only as a profession but as a social and cultural phenomenon.
Following fields of research are suggested:
1) Economic aspects of the midwifery
Was a profession of midwifery for practicing midwives really an independent occupation in terms of the economic and social independence or should we see childbirth assistance only as a part-time job opportunity for lower classes? To what extent were midwives dependent on other sources of income or financial support of relatives and local community? To determine regional differences in midwives´ position and the proportion of their representation to their potential clients, a comparative study will be very beneficial to specify the differences between various typological locations – large cities, small towns, villages and remote and isolated communities.
2) Career development
What were the key elements for a successful career and acquisition of clientele? Have female midwives profited more from personal relationships within a local community, or have they tried to build their reputation on the basis of scientific knowledge acquired in the process of education? Why did women choose a career of a midwife – have they decided to follow family traditions or was it an autonomous choice? Factors affecting the performance and success of the profession will be monitored in regard to an overlap of midwifery with maternity wards and hospitals in urban centers, or with exclusive position of the solitary representatives of the professionalized medicine in distant regions.
3) Types of medical treatment provided by midwives
There have been many cases of midwives being charged with practicing medicine without a license, criminal negligence, and even homicide in the event od child´s death. How frequent were these cases and were they have been tolerated by the local authorities? How variable was the spectrum of medical treatment provided by the midwives within the local medical market? In the case of broad medical activities, how was composed their income spectrum?
4) Social and cultural representations and self-awareness
A comparative insight into regional differences and accessibility of midwives can give us an opportunity to find the spatial differences in the “field” of midwifery or, on the other side confirm the coherence of the social network, created on the structural basis of shared strategies of social representation and practice. What were the social connotations of the performance of midwifery? How did the social status of midwives change within the rural and urban population? Can we interpret the performance of the obstetric profession as a way of increasing of social, economic or symbolic capital? What was the internal hierarchy of different type professions relating to midwifery?
5) Professional networking
Institutionalization and professionalization of midwifery together with its masculinization caused the gradual weakening of traditional medical profession. Midwifery became a target of persecution by public authorities because midwives possessed specialized knowledge and skills. Can we interpret the foundations of midwives professional organizations as a defensive or educational act? Were midwives engaged in dialog and solidarity across the regions? Did they compete with each other despite of their common interests?
Registration
The conference committee invites scholars from diverse fields, such as historiography, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, history of arts, cultural studies, to send in by mail a 250 word proposal (which includes title, research question and used sources) for a 20 minute presentation, no later than 30.8.2018 to following mail address: vladan.hanulik@upce.cz
The written form of the submitted papers will be included in the peer-reviewed journal Theatrum historiae, indexed in the ERIH database. The deadline for submitting the contribution will be 7 January 2019.
No conference fee will be required. Unfortunately, the costs of accommodation and travel cannot be reimbursed.
1) Development and changes in the field of midwifery
Firstly – there must be defined the group, which will be studied. For this purpose will be used list of name records of the attendants of the courses of midwifery (later obstetrics assistants) at the universities of Prague, Olomouc and Brno.
Secondly, a numbered database of all the individuals in the list will be established by a process of record-linkage adding biographical data.
Biograms of particular midwives will be used as a background, starting from the 19th up to the half of the 20th century and based on the use of a unique set of their preserved personal records – midwife´s diaries, which concerned the description on the course of the deliveries (the oldest dates back to 1821), on ego-documents (diaries, correspondence and memoires) of the clients.
This method will enable to compare the social origin, childhood, basic education, marriage, maternity, professional preparation, place of work, performance and optionally other activities of individual representatives of the profession.
2) Spatial determination of social practice
To determine regional differences in midwives´ position and the proportion of their representation to their potential clients, a comparative study will be carried out in typologically ideal locations – large cities, small towns, villages and mountain resorts.
Factors affecting the performance and success of the profession will be monitored in regard to an overlap of midwifery with maternity wards in urban centres, or with exclusive position of the solitary representatives of the professionalized medicine in distant regions, as well as the differences in attitudes of patrimonial, religious, administration and self-administration authorities to this profession.
A comparative insight into regional differences and accessibility of midwives can give us an opportunity to find the spatial differences in the “field” of midwifery or, on the other side confirm the coherence of the social network, created on the structural basis of shared strategies of social representation and practice.
3) Impact of masculinization and professionalization on conventional obstetric practice
Institutionalization and professionalization of midwifery together with its masculinization caused the gradual weakening of traditional specialized healthcare profession. Impact of this process will be studied using examples of the new concepts and changes in midwifery.
Based on personal narratives, reactions of midwives will be observed that kept losing the verification authenticity being gradually discredited. The objective of the analysis will be, among others, to follow the argumentation line that supported the authority of practising midwives in the eyes of their patients. This will be done on the basis of preserved ego-documents with the aim to discover transformations of internal hierarchy of different type professions relating to midwifery, determination of the sphere of competence and the phenomenon of legitimization within the specifics of gaining a changeable recognition status in healthcare.
Research project administrator:
Fellow researchers:
Zuzana Pavelková-Čevelová
Research co-workers:
Veronika Najmanová
Porodní babičky
Porodní báby: profesionalizace, institucionalizace a výkon historicky prvního ženského kvalifikovaného povolání v průběhu dvou staletí, 1804-1948
Realizace výzkumu je podpořena z prostředků Grantové agentury České republiky, prostřednictvím realizace grantového projektu č. 17-14082S Porodní báby: profesionalizace, institucionalizace a výkon historicky prvního ženského kvalifikovaného povolání v průběhu dvou staletí, 1804-1948.
Analytickým cílem projektu je sledovat posun hierarchií v rámci léčebného pole, respektive segmentu porodnické péče, zejména sledování hranice, která počala od přelomu 18. a 19. století oddělovat vědecký svět univerzitních odborníků (chirurgů, gynekologů, profesorů i studentů porodnických kurzů a přednášek) od světa výkonu porodnické praxe, kterému zdaleka nedominovali muži, ale díky existenci získání licenční aprobace se zde výrazně uplatňovaly i ženy – porodní báby a konečně prostorem výkonu neaprobovaných zákroků.
Variabilní hranice mezi těmito třemi sférami byla ovšem dána nikoli pouze výší vzdělání, ať už to bylo vzdělání čistě formální, či mělo skutečný vědecký fundament, reprezentanti a reprezentatky odlišných světů perfomovali svou profesní identitu zcela odlišným způsobem.
Cílem výzkumu je z tohoto důvodu sledovat proměny léčebné kultury s ohledem na utváření idealizované typologie představitelek povolání porodních bab, utváření strategií sebeprezentace, komunikace, ale i redefinování vztahu mezi pacientkami a osobami praktikujícími v porodnické péči.
