Brigitte Jordan's "Birth in Four Cultures"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in Brigitte Jordan's book "Birth in Four Cultures", the author outlines the birthing events of four different cultures and identifies the Western technology based perspective responsible for the high mortality rates in the U.S. Her research premise is based on the hypothesis that traditional methods are better than the modern ones. The paper includes critiques of this research by later birthing researchers; however, the author concludes that Jordan's work is pioneering and foundational birthing ethnology.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Brief Summary of "Birth in Four Cultures"
Method
Critique
Conclude

From the Paper:

"In another publication Davis-Floyd, Pigg, and Cosminsky (2001) the authors knowledge and provide evidence that traditional midwives are more professional than they are given credit for. They are not only highly educated, open to new methods but they also have experience in the field of their respective community birth system. Unlike the Western cosmopolitical birth authorities such as hospitals and obstetricians, traditional midwives vision and mission is to collaborate with the processes of nature."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Davis-Floyd R, Pigg SL, Cosminsky S. (2001). Daughters of Time: The Shifting Identities of Contemporary Midwives, Medical Anthropology, Vols. 20 (2-3 and 4): 105-139.
• Davis-Floyd, R. E. and Sargent, C. F. (1997). Childbirth and Authoritative Knowledge: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press.
• Jordan, B. (1978) Birth in Four Cultures, Waveland Press.
• McCallum, C. (2005). Caesarean section in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, Sociology of Health & Illness Vol. 27 No. 2 2005 ISSN 0141-9889, pp. 215-242.
• Ottani, P. A. (2002). When Childbirth preparation isnt a cultural norm. International Journal of Childbirth Education. June Issue.

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• Analytical Essay # 44919 : "Contextual Themes in Four Works"

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