Birth and Death: Reciprocal Relationships Between Society’s Culture, Technology, and Industry

Abstract

Over the course of several centuries, the procedures for birth and death changed as innovations in science and medicine developed to establish an industry of professionals employed for utilizing them. While reviewing how these procedures shifted and evolved, I’ve drawn parallels to suggest they have undergone similar changes, at similar rates, during the same time. Additionally, my research considers the steps taken to reclaim or reimagine birth and death procedures and frames these movements as reactions to the implications of standardized care. By drawing parallels between the evolutions of beginning and end of life practices in America and comparing the approaches of two modern professionals, my research builds on previous discussions by offering modern narratives.