In The Ways of Her Household, Ulrich talks about how women’s work in the 1700’s weren’t tangible like men’s work, but were distinctly important in order to keep the community and the family thriving. This theme is shown throughout Midwife’s Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Martha Ballard’s diary shines a light on the everyday task of women in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Martha is simultaneously a “physician, nurse, midwife, mortician, pharmacist, and attentive wife.” Many people would have the common misconception that women weren’t an essential part of life in the 1700s. However, Martha Ballard’s diaries shows a variety of jobs that women had and the intelligence and work ethic that was required to balance their busy lifestyles.
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Martha’s diary shines the light on the intelligence and work ethics that midwives had in the 1700s. Throughout the book with Martha practice is reminessance to English botanic medicine and Martha’s experience rested on a long accumulation of English experience. While caring for the sick was considered the women’s role, Martha’s ends up delivering approximately 814 children and was one of the most busiest midwives in Hallowell during her active years. Ulrich writes, “Caring for the sick was a universal female role, yet several women in every community stood out from the others for the breadth and depth of their commitment.” I also think that’s important that note that Martha is shocked when she witnesses the first woman to die in childbirth while she’s delivering. This goes to show, Martha’s high success rate and her pride in her profession. While, in many cases the midwife’s presence is overlooked and they weren’t identified as ‘doctors’ Martha was usually the first one to be called in most medical situations. Ulrich writes, “Martha was respectful, even deferential, towards the men’s work, but the world she described was sustained by women--”This shows the important work that women had in the 1700s and without them the system would
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Martha’s diary shines the light on the intelligence and work ethics that midwives had in the 1700s. Throughout the book with Martha practice is reminessance to English botanic medicine and Martha’s experience rested on a long accumulation of English experience. While caring for the sick was considered the women’s role, Martha’s ends up delivering approximately 814 children and was one of the most busiest midwives in Hallowell during her active years. Ulrich writes, “Caring for the sick was a universal female role, yet several women in every community stood out from the others for the breadth and depth of their commitment.” I also think that’s important that note that Martha is shocked when she witnesses the first woman to die in childbirth while she’s delivering. This goes to show, Martha’s high success rate and her pride in her profession. While, in many cases the midwife’s presence is overlooked and they weren’t identified as ‘doctors’ Martha was usually the first one to be called in most medical situations. Ulrich writes, “Martha was respectful, even deferential, towards the men’s work, but the world she described was sustained by women--”This shows the important work that women had in the 1700s and without them the system would