Birthing Fathers: The Transformation of Men in American Rites of Birth

273 Pages·2005·1.15 MB·English

by  Richard K. Reed

Birthing Fathers
Birthing Fathers
The Transformation of Men
in American Rites of Birth
R I C H A R D K . R E E D
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, AND LONDON
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Reed, Richard K., 1954–
Birthing fathers : the transformation of men in American rites of birth /
Richard K. Reed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8135-3516-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-8135-3517-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Childbirth—Social aspects—United States. 2. Birth customs—United States.
3. Labor (Obstetrics)—United States. 4. Natural childbirth—United States.
5. Fatherhood—United States. 6. Fathers—United States—Psychology. 7. Fathers—
United States—Attitudes. 8. Men—United States—Attitudes. 9. Father and infant.
I. Title.
RG652.R44 2005
618.4—dc22 2004011740
A British Cataloging-in-Publication record for this book is
available from the British Library.
Copyright © 2005 by Richard K. Reed
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
written permission from the publisher. Please contact Rutgers University Press, 100 Joyce
Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854–8099. The only exception to this prohibition is
“fair use” as defined by U.S. copyright law.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Dedicated to Anna and Austin
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
1 American Fathers and Hospital Childbirth 1
2 Couvade in Society and History 32
3 Standing Vigil: Fathers in the Waiting Room, 1920–1970 76
4 Birthing Revolution: Men to the Barricades 104
5 Birthing Classes: Training Men to Birth 135
6 Men’s Experience of Birth 161
7 Fathers, Birth, and Society 211
Notes 243
Bibliography 247
Index 257
vi i
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost I thank my life partner, Lisa Chatillon. She introduced me to
feminist ideas long ago, literally labored through my introduction to fatherhood,
and shared her books on both topics as I developed my own perspective on
birthing. I remain indebted to her scholarly critique of the first draft and for her
generous support throughout the long months of writing.
Special appreciation goes to Robbie Davis-Floyd. She first suggested I write
this book and offered unstinting advice and support along the way. Her work not
only guided me through my own birthing, but became central to this analysis.
Her comments contributed enormously to the development of this manuscript.
Of the many birth-class teachers who opened their classes to me, I want to
especially thank Mary Stanchak and Julie Walker. They are spectacular trainers
and warm human beings and their classes showed me how wonder-filled birth
training can be.
I want to express my gratitude to Jim Spickard and an anonymous reader at
Rutgers University Press. Their careful reading and constructive criticisms are
sterling examples of intellectual generosity. Jen Moran’s keen editorial work
saved me from a variety of both grammatical and conceptual errors. Kristi Long
accepted this project with enthusiasm and moved it quickly, the greatest favor
an editor can give. I’d also like to express my gratitude to my colleagues at Trin-
ity University, whose supportive community fosters both scholarship and sanity.
Franke Johnson and Irma Deleon deserve special mention for keeping the trains
running on time.
Perhaps most important, I wish to thank the fathers who told me their
stories, especially those new fathers who gave up scarce time and energy to
share memories. I can only hope that what I heard will foster wonder-filled
birthing experiences for future fathers.
ix