In prehistoric times, women generally gave birth alone, in a squatting position or on the ground, near a spring or a forest, in order to increase the Earth’s vital power! Thousands of years later, mothers of the second millennium give birth to their babies in ultra-medicalised environments and can resort to medically assisted procreation.
A team of historians, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists and philosophers examine the major issues raised by birth and motherhood.
In all societies, babies are eagerly awaited, although current debates do not always confirm this, and the desire for a child remains an unsolved enigma… Who could deny, however, that motherhood is one of the foundations of social life? For it is indeed in the majority of cases women who give birth to children and create the adults of tomorrow!

The directors of the book:

Martine Fournier Former editor-in-chief of the magazine Sciences Humaines, she is now an editorial consultant. She has edited many books, including Histoires de pionnières and Genre et féminisme (Sciences Humaines, 2018 and 2022).

Cécile Peltier is deputy editor-in-chief of the journal Sciences Humaines.

Contributors: Hugo Albandea, Lise Bartoli, Sophie A. de Beaune, Emmanuelle Berthiaud, Marianne Caron-Leulliez, Jean-François Dortier, Guillemette Faure, Agnès Fine, Camille Froidevaux-Metterie, Sandrine Garcia, Louis-Pascal Jacquemond, Béatrice Kammerer, Jean-Yves Le Naour, Didier Lett, Patricia Ménissier, Marie-France Morel, Pascale Mormiche, Maud Navarre, Nathalie Sage Pranchère, Marion Rousset, Frédéric Spinhirny, Pauline Tanghe, Catherine Valenti, Achille Weinberg.