“Giver of Light”: The Influence of a Mexican Midwife on Community Development

Authors

Karen Sandberg, Brigham Young University
Jini Roby, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Mexican midwife, community development, to give light, dar a luz

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Social Work

Abstract

Dar a luz, meaning “to give light,” is the Mexican phrase for giving birth. The equation of light with the birth process reveals its significance to the Mexican people. Internationally, female midwives educated and assisted women in the birth process, making it a specific sphere of women’s influence. Midwives played an important role in the development and well being of their communities as well: they “served as healers,” using herbs and other medical treatment’s to promote general health (Sapiro 206). As such, health care has been one of the few areas historically where women have, in addition to their homes, contributed to the development of their communities; unfortunately, however, it is also an area which research has neglected.

Recommended Citation

Sandberg, Karen and Roby, Jini (2014) "“Giver of Light”: The Influence of a Mexican Midwife on Community Development," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 356.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/356