Problem
I. Explain the changes that have taken place regarding the lead up to the medicalization of American childbirth. For example, when it comes to birth in the US, who currently "attends" birth (performs the deliveries)? Can you describe some of the negatives and positives that come with medicalized birth? (You will need to refer to the film "The Business of Being Born" along with the article on "Maternity Care in Crisis.")
II. What is the difference between mortality and morbidity and how do they each describe the health of a population? Explain the different measurements for mortality, for example, maternal and infant mortality rates and briefly compare the developed and underdeveloped world in terms of their outcomes for these measures? How does a country's treatment of women and children figure into these rates? Make sure to mention the impact of race/ethnicity on the outcomes.
III. How do we generally choose who we mate/reproduce with in the US? Regarding reading and lecture, address how the changing roles of women (think the Coontz reading and "Family in Transition" piece,) in the US have affected the number of out-of-wedlock births and the fact that many men in "middle age" find it difficult these days to find a partner.
IV. Describe how reproduction is very much a social issue. What are the kinds of issues raised that help to explain why social scientists and not just physicians or medical researchers, can help explain the changes in the way-- and the "why" -- we reproduce as we do in the US.