Ce mémoire explore le concept de la sagefemme-sorcière dans le contexte de la masculinisation
et la médicalisation du processus de l'accouchement. En m'appuyant sur le roman The Birth
House, par Ami McKay, je développerai trois chapitres qui traitent de l'histoire du domaine
obstétrique, la chasse aux sorcières, ainsi que l'historique de l'archétype de la sorcière dans un
contexte féministe afin d'illuminer la caractérisation de Dora et Miss Babineau en tant que des
véritables sorcières, malgré qu'elle ne pratiquent pas de magie dans l'histoire. De plus, ce
mémoire examinera les implications féministes de l'adoption littéraire de l'archétype de la
sorcière en ce qui concerne la culture populaire et le climat politique actuel en Amérique du Nord
grâce à l'adoption d'une perspective historique afin d'illustrer l'importance culturelle non
seulement du roman, mais des personnages qui y habitent. / In this paper, I explore the notion of the midwife-witch and how it relates to the medicalization
and masculinization of birth as portrayed in The Birth House by Ami McKay. This subject is
divided in three chapters that give historical context to the emergence of obstetrics and the
prosecution of midwives, the history of the archetype of the witch and how it is explored in the
characterization of Dora and Miss Babineau, as well as the feminist implications of the figure of
the midwife-witch and how it is relevant to the current political and cultural climate. I argue that
McKay's novel fictionalizes the question of how witchcraft influenced the process of excluding
women from medicine as well as reinforces the overall patriarchal subjugation of women. In turn,
the text suggests that the key to transcending gender-based oppression lies in embracing the
magick of womanhood: the power to create life. This thesis draws a timeline in the history of
women's medicine, witch hunts, and feminism to show how these three elements interact in
McKay's novel, which serves as a feminist retelling of the real-world implications and power of
negotiating and claiming identity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:umontreal.ca/oai:papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca:1866/23723 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Kaustinen, Katrina |
| Contributors | Boro, Joyce |
| Source Sets | Université de Montréal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thèse ou mémoire / Thesis or Dissertation |
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