Man-Midwifery Exposed and Corrected

First published in the mid-nineteenth century, Man-Midwifery Exposed and Corrected by Samuel Gregory, A.M. is a passionate and controversial critique of the growing practice of male involvement in obstetrics. Written during a time when childbirth was shifting from the home to the clinic, Gregory—an educator and moral reformer—condemns the intrusion of male physicians into what he regarded as a sacred and modest domain of women.

Arguing from both moral and practical grounds, Gregory exposes the indecencies, dangers, and ethical conflicts of “man-midwifery”, calling instead for the education and empowerment of female midwives. His work is as much a plea for women’s medical autonomy as it is a denunciation of the exploitation and immodesty he believed inherent in male obstetric practice.

A document of social conscience and medical reform, the book captures a crucial moment in the history of women’s healthcare, professional ethics, and gender roles in medicine, reflecting the tension between Victorian morality and modern medicalization.

Complete edition of Samuel Gregory’s 19th-century reformist treatise

Critiques the rise of male obstetricians and defends traditional female midwifery

Explores moral, ethical, and professional debates in early medical practice

Essential for readers of medical history, gender studies, and feminist reform movements