Atlas Obscura After Hours Series: Women's Medicine

Among the fallacies perpetuated in early modern midwifery texts are the suggestions that a baby born in the seventh month was more likely to survive than a baby born in the eighth month, that the vigor of male babies made them easier to deliver than female babies, and that eating fruit would delay labor. By the 1750s, early European illustrated anatomies began to depict the female skeleton, as part of a broader discussion of gender and society. In an intimate setting, we’ll explore highlights from the Academy’s rich collections of women’s medicine and midwifery. The Academy’s books are full of secret treasures; join us to learn more about changing attitudes towards women’s bodies over time.

This event is part of the six-session 2016 series "After Hours: Inside the Rare Book Collections of The New York Academy of Medicine" presented by Atlas Obscura at the Academy.