MIDWIVES

Midwives: translation

Midwives in some cultures can have much in common with shamans, especiallyelectionby powerfulhelpersfromotherworlds. Elsewhere, midwifery may be a role of shamans themselves. Susan Sered (1992) includes midwives among the “womenasritualexperts” she discusses. However, the claim that those persecuted aswitchesin early modern Europe were really village midwives andhealershas been shown to be based on inadequate research.