A Midwife's Tale Summary

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Laurel Thatcher was born on July 11, 1938, to Mormon parents. She was raised with the belief that women were to take care of their families and homes. Mormon religion taught that women did not have professional careers. However, Laurels parents did veer from a that particular belief and encouraged all their children to get an education. From a very young age Laurel wanted to be a writer. When Laurel hit her thirties she took an interest in women’s work in history. She was somewhat of a feminist. Though she did give up dreams of being a professional to take care of her family, she still took time to write. She even went to college to earn a degree in English. Laurel also had a great interest in American history, especially the role of women …show more content…
In A Midwife’s Tale, Ulrich sets up her chapters in chronological order to coincide with the diary. Each chapter focuses on particular events that have happened in Martha’s life. Ulrich begins each chapter with excerpts from the diary and then analyzes and discusses the context and meaning of each. She is able to expand on the historical context by using documents from the time and area such as town records and diaries from others in the area at the time. The book topics include showing us how the women in the community provided for their families. Martha provided for her family through not only her work as a midwife but through her weaving as well. Another section focuses on what is happening in the community in which Martha lives comparing the lives of the men to the lives of the women. She takes time to focus on economic practices that were happening in the community and the spread of rural debt. The topics go on to cover religion and the politics/courts. It tells us how women dealt with crimes against them. Next came the relationships, which includes courtship, infidelity, marriage, and sex. The book then goes into Martha’s work as a midwife and touches on evolving medical
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A Midwife's Tale Summary

In her book, ‘A Midwife’s Tale’, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich explores the social position of women in society and the subsequent change in their roles in early American society by studying the life of Martha Ballard. This book questions the impact that the Revolutionary War and the independence of the United States of America had on the lives of American women like Martha Ballard. Due to the restriction on Martha’s participation in the public economy, her exclusion and apathy toward the Revolution and…

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