Description
Book Synopsis: The deprivations and cruelty of slavery have overshadowed our understanding of the institution's most human dimension: birth. We often don't realize that after the United States stopped importing slaves in 1808, births were more important than ever; slavery and the southern way of life could continue only through babies born in bondage. In the antebellum South, slaveholders' interest in slave women was matched by physicians struggling to assert their own professional authority over childbirth, and the two began to work together to increase the number of infants born in the slave quarter. In unprecedented ways, doctors tried to manage the health of enslaved women from puberty through the reproductive years, attempting to foster pregnancy, cure infertility, and resolve gynecological problems, including cancer.
Black women, however, proved an unruly force, distrustful of both the slaveholders and their doctors. With their own healing traditions, emphasizing the power of roots and herbs and the critical roles of family and community, enslaved women struggled to take charge of their own health in a system that did not respect their social circumstances, customs, or values. Birthing a Slave depicts the competing approaches to reproductive health that evolved on plantations, as both black women and white men sought to enhance the health of enslaved mothers--in very different ways and for entirely different reasons. Birthing a Slave is the first book to focus exclusively on the health care of enslaved women, and it argues convincingly for the critical role of reproductive medicine in the slave system of antebellum America.
Details
Are you ready to dive deeper into the untold stories of motherhood in the Antebellum South? Look no further than "Birthing a Slave: Motherhood and Medicine in the Antebellum South." This captivating book takes you on a journey through the intricacies of birth during the era of slavery, shedding light on a crucial aspect that has often been overlooked.
Discover how births became more vital than ever after the United States halted the importation of slaves in 1808. As you delve into the pages of this book, you'll uncover the captivating collaboration between slaveholders and physicians, working together to ensure the production of babies born in bondage and the continuation of the southern way of life.
Immerse yourself in the unprecedented attempts of doctors to manage the reproductive health of enslaved women. From puberty to the reproductive years, these physicians strived to foster pregnancy, treat infertility, and resolve gynecological complications. Get ready to be captivated by the intricate web of medical practices and their impact on the lives of enslaved women.
But it doesn't end there. "Birthing a Slave" delves even deeper into the stories of enslaved women themselves. Explore their struggles to maintain control over their own health within a system that disrespected their circumstances, traditions, and values. Uncover their healing traditions, rooted in the power of natural remedies and the strength of family and community. This book highlights the resilience and determination of black women, who defied both their slaveholders and doctors in their quest for autonomy.
With its exclusive focus on the healthcare of enslaved women, "Birthing a Slave" offers a groundbreaking perspective on the role of reproductive medicine in the antebellum slave system. Get ready to challenge your understanding of history and gain a fresh perspective on motherhood, medicine, and the struggles faced by those enslaved.
Don't miss your chance to uncover the hidden stories of motherhood in the Antebellum South. Order your copy of "Birthing a Slave: Motherhood and Medicine in the Antebellum South" today and embark on a journey that will leave you enlightened and inspired.
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