Jennifer Hill

Jennifer Hill, an assistant teaching professor of American Studies at MSU comes out with her new book "Birthing the West: Mothers and Midwives in the Rockies and Plains." 

On Monday, March 28, in the Leigh Lounge of the SUB, Jennifer Hill, associate professor of American Studies, presented her newly published, and long-awaited non-fiction book, “Birthing the West: Mothers and Midwives in the Rockies and Plains.”

Among the audience were friends, former and current students, colleagues, family and even some relatives of women who are featured in Hill’s book. The book discusses childbirth in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas, why this area has historically higher rates of infant death and how cultural development is dependent on childbirth that occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries. She delivered and discussed how one of her motivations to write and research this topic was her “experience as a reproducing woman in the [American] west,” Hill said. “I was astutely aware that I was entering a different space as a pregnant woman.”

She went on to read selected excerpts from the text, largely from the eloquently written introduction. In her final paragraph before the first chapter, Hill wrote, “This text investigates mothers and midwives not because they were saints or otherworldly feminist warriors, but because they formed a nurturing, life-affirming practice of passing on knowledge while balancing authority and care. Female-centered reproduction offers insight into women’s experiences in another era and also sheds light on ways of being human, of working collaboratively, of giving and receiving respect, of nurturing a creative and productive human culture.” 

Much of Hill’s message surrounds the continuing problem of disappearing and ignored voices from women who weren’t fortunate enough to have someone tell their story. Students can take from the book the importance of a woman’s story and gain inspiration from Hill about the significance of bringing these stories to the surface. Hill’s book beautifully emphasizes the effort that was required to make such voices heard. Hill, whether in her classroom or in her writing, inspires us to listen, feel and empower.