Rickets, Race and Reproduction: Contracted Pelvis and the American Way of Birth

This book explores the history of rickets, a disease affecting children, its association with race, and the challenges faced by medical researchers in understanding and addressing the disease. It also highlights the medical intervention in childbirth and the shift towards hospital births, often influenced by racial assumptions and driven by the desire to control pelvic disproportion and increase caesarean sections.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2024
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate history of rickets, a disease predominantly associated with childhood. It explores the profound connection between rickets and race, shedding light on its far-reaching consequences on childbirth. Throughout centuries, the understanding of this condition remained limited, posing a dual threat to females: enduring suffering during childhood and facing severe risks during adulthood when giving birth. The disease could lead to a contracted pelvis, obstructing the birth canal, resulting in challenging deliveries. Medical researchers faced two formidable challenges: unraveling the etiology of rickets and ensuring the safety of women during childbirth. These endeavors proved particularly daunting, as the condition defied analysis until the early 20th century when the discovery of vitamin D provided a breakthrough. The risks associated with rickets significantly diminished, paving the way for medical intervention in childbirth. Childbirth gradually transitioned from home settings to hospital environments, driven by the need for specialized care and advanced medical technologies. Medical practitioners justified these interventions by emphasizing the dangers of pelvic disproportion, continually expanding the definition to gain full control over birth. However, these interventions were often influenced by racial assumptions, leading to the promotion of surgical experimentation and the widespread use of anesthesia. As a result, childbirth became a colder, more clinical experience, distancing it from the intimate and personalized nature it once held.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476693712