A meditation on Witches, Midwives, & Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English
published in the furious beautiful review of books
The time to absorb Witches, Midwives, & Nurses is now: this bite-sized, nonfiction treasure effectively sets the mood for a contemplative Halloween season as trivialized portraiture of witchcraft encircles us all.
The authors put forward a history of witches as a thread of women’s rights and oppression, telling a larger story about women as healers––over time, the witch and her “aura of contamination” has evolved into the suspicion towards midwives, nurses, and other roles taken on by women. Yeah, this read also feels like a warm hug and record of resilience for anyone frostbit by frustrating news and conversations about abortion access.
All in all, in approximately 100 pages, Witches, Midwives, & Nurses provides material to advocate for and appreciate the women working to resolve human bodies and souls.
The authors put forward a history of witches as a thread of women’s rights and oppression, telling a larger story about women as healers––over time, the witch and her “aura of contamination” has evolved into the suspicion towards midwives, nurses, and other roles taken on by women. Yeah, this read also feels like a warm hug and record of resilience for anyone frostbit by frustrating news and conversations about abortion access.
All in all, in approximately 100 pages, Witches, Midwives, & Nurses provides material to advocate for and appreciate the women working to resolve human bodies and souls.