Childbirth and Communities of Care in Ancient Rome | Labour and Humanities Seminar with Anna Bonnell Freidin

How did Romans mitigate the risks of childbirth? This talk will explore the communities that supported and protected birthing people and their offspring. A material approach can help us build out these communities: amulets (whether made of stone, plants, or something else) will be our primary focus, as they brought together (sometimes unlikely) people and nonhuman agencies, ultimately revealing a hierarchical, networked approach to managing uncertainty and performing the labor of care.  

The Labour and Humanities Seminar brings distinguished scholars in the humanities working on themes related to labour, globalization and employment relations to the University of Toronto to present and discuss their work. The seminars reflect an eclectic approach to the study of work across human history and culture and are intended to help build and reinforce interdisciplinary connections, both within CIRHR and in the wider University community.