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Born Southern: Childbirth, Motherhood, and Social Networks in the Old South
V. Lynn Kennedy's Born Southern examines childbirth, motherhood, and social networks in the antebellum South, exploring how ideals of motherhood intersected with the realities of slavery and regional identity. The book uses diaries, letters, and other primary sources to analyze the experiences of both white and Black women, revealing contrasting perspectives on issues like conception, pregnancy, childbirth, infant care, and the impact of race and class. Kennedy highlights the shared dangers of childbirth while also emphasizing the vast differences in power and agency between enslaved and free women. The study further examines how these experiences shaped notions of gender, race, and regional identity, especially in the context of the escalating sectional crisis and the Civil War. Finally, the book’s concluding section explores the lingering impact of these experiences on the formation of a “Confederate motherhood” ideal in the postbellum era.
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Published on 1 year ago