This collection of essays takes the reader from the early 19th century struggle between female midwives and male physicians right up to the late 20th century emergence of professionally trained women physicians vying for a place in the medical hierarchy. The bitter conflict for control of birthing and other aspects of domestic health care between female lay healers, particularly midwives, and the emerging male-dominated medical profession is examined from new perspectives.

Dianne Dodd studied at Carleton University and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, specializing in social and women's history. She spent over twenty years at Parks Canada's Historic Sites Directorate, working to improve the representation of women in designations of events, persons, and places of national historic significance. Dianne was recently the Chair of the Ontario Women's History Network and lives in a suburb of Ottawa.

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Deborah Gorham taught History and Women's Studies at Carleton University for forty years, including setting up, planning and teaching the first women’s history course at the university – one of the first such courses in North America. She is the author of Vera Brittain: A Feminist Life, and others. Deborah lives in Ottawa.

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