Barbara EhrenreichWitches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers (Contemporary Classics)

The authors really said a lot in this short little booklet. They pose a clear correlation between midwifery, the witch hunt movement, women’s suppression and exclusion from the health care field, and the rise of the current patriarchal, male-dominated medical system. They also explain how women healers have always played a part in shaping the history of medicine, but their role has been trivialized and diminished in the power struggle with male doctors. It’s an excellent read for anyone pursuing a career in medicine or anyone interested in the institutionalized sexism of the health care industry.

This is the third time I have come across this book, which is my current read. The first time was a couple of decades ago in hints and whispers, quoted within other books. The second time was a photocopied version I acquired from a freedom of information gathering within an anarchy collective. This is an amazing study. I was inspired to take personal authority over my own body. Read it!

Although it is short and straight to the point, I wish it would have included more names of women who became nurses or doctors. There was minimal information about Rockefeller and the other man who created the medical profession. also, what about women today? That should be included.

This book is more important now more than ever. As women we all need to understand how the medical profession was built and how it has evolved to continue to function and oppress women. Excellent in so many ways!! Pass this along!!

I am torn between giving this a 4 or a 5 - in a way I would consider this work to be an essay opposed to a "book". What I thought was fascinating:First - the background of the authors (!). Apparently they brought women's studies to women in the 1960's via these pamphlets and talks given in libraries, etc.(never heard of this movement - I really must applaud them.) That alone shows just how far women have come since the 1960's, and is frightening when truly considered. As recently as that point in time, women's bodies had become a foreign territory to be deciphered by the medical establishment regarding fertility, reproduction and functionality. That is really what this book is about as an overview...The starting point of this book maps out how the medical profession began with women in the very primary role as natural healers (witches. Over time the natural healers began to get pushed to the side by men (or the establishment)- practitioners who took the more "scientific approach" of blood-letting and leaches. I know who I would rather go to!!! Also, the book/essay touches upon some of the select few women who did attend medical school. Those select women (although ostracized by their male counterparts) quickly joined "the ranks" of a fairly closed-door society of the medical "elite". Midwives (once again a very necessary and useful service) were then seen as a threat and marginalized, is not made illegal. Until the mid to late 1800's Medical practices and standards were up for debate - and the way the book portrays the chronology points to money closing ranks, pulling together to protect the privileged (capitalism) to the exclusion of others - often the poor but bright, midwives, people of color etc. I agree with the premise that even today money controls, while values and beneficial practices can suffer.In short - Witches Midwives & Nurses got me thinking. Now that I have written this review - I am giving it a 5 star rating. Literature that introduces new ideas or provides thought-provoking accounts serves it purpose well.

I am a nurse.

I enjoyed this books frank way of discussing women's rights and loss of freedom/ respect.Imagine how our world would be had the herbalist been reveled instead of demonized???

Short. Women power!!!! A must read for anyone who is a healer.

LOVE LOVE LOVE - this is a great and short read packed of info. Highly recommend, I borrowed it from the library first but had to own a copy

Version revisitée avec une nouvelle introduction prenant en compte des éléments plus récents. Court mais complet, je recommande

Talk about a wake up, call. Its a short read but wow, does it have a punch. You can feel, the outrage and anger from these pages. The true history of our, women.

Tenía pendiente su lectura. Es cortito y hace una pasada por la historia feminista centrándose en la medicina, cuestiones de la inquisición...

Wer sich für dieses Thema interessiert, bzw. sich einen gewissen Überblick darüber verschaffen möchte, kann bei diesem Buch nicht viel falsch machen. Es ist interessant geschrieben, schwafelt nicht um den heißen Brei herum und lässt sich im Englischen angenehm lesen.