28th Annual Student Research Conference
Greek Midwives and Ozarker Granny-Women: A Comparison of Female Experiences in Traditional Medicine
Meagan E. McGlasson
Dr. Bridget Thomas, Faculty Mentor
Scholars agree that identifying female voices in ancient medicine is not an easy undertaking, due to the limited nature of surviving artifacts. By comparing the scattered accounts of Athenian midwives with the roles of granny-women in the early twentieth century Ozarker culture however, the problem of interpreting the Athenian sources becomes secondary to the commonalities present in the practices documented in both societies. Artifacts from both cultures indicate that practiced mothers often took a primary role in providing reproductive care for their communities. While there is no indication that the Athenian conventions influenced Ozarker health care, an overlap in prescribed treatments suggests a common motivation for women to utilize and potentially develop affordable, effective remedies in order to avoid the expense and discomfort of consulting a physician.
Keywords: women, medicine, Athenian, Ozarker, comparison, granny-women, midwife
Topic(s):Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 406-3
Location: MG 2050
Time: 3:00