Two PhD positions available at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Antwerp

Are you interested in the history of midwifery? Would you like to contribute to uncovering the roles and practices of midwives in Belgium and the Belgian Congo in the twentieth century through archival research and oral history? And do you enjoy collaborating closely with another PhD student?

The FWO-funded research project ‘Midwifery roles and practices in Belgium and the Belgian Congo (1908-1960)’, coordinated by Jolien Gijbels and Margot Luyckfasseel, aims to generate fresh insight into the continuing importance of midwives in reproductive care in Belgium and the Belgian Congo between 1908 and 1960. Although women across the globe handled the lion’s share of deliveries and combined different reproductive care roles far into the 20th century, a comprehensive history of their variety of practices and roles still needs to be written. To this end, you will collaborate closely with the other PhD researcher to develop a practice-oriented methodology that prioritizes source material offering insights into midwifery practices and the perspective of midwives, and to examine the mutual influences between Belgium and the Belgian Congo

The PhD researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel will work on the Belgian case and will be supervised by Jolien Gijbels, Margot Luyckfasseel and Margo De Koster.
The PhD researcher at Universiteit Antwerpen will focus on the Belgian Congo and will be supervised by Margot Luyckfasseel, Jolien Gijbels and Amandine Lauro.

Start date: November 1
Application deadline: June 1

More information about the vacancies can be found here: VUB vacancy and UAntwerp vacancy