A Bun in the Oven

A Bun in the Oven is a fascinating investigation of the parallels and differences between two important consumer movements of our times: the food movement and the birth movement. Witty and thought-provoking throughout, it will stimulate discussion among those who seek to keep artisanal skills and knowledge alive in both of these fundamental areas of our lives. -- Ina May Gaskin,author of Spiritual Midwifery
A Bun in the Oven is an erudite but fun read into these two worlds and how people struggle for identity, choice, voice and meaningful experiences in our increasingly industrialized world. The reader leaves with an understanding and appreciation for the struggles of both the food and birth movements and a sense of what these two, often overlapping, life-or-death important movements can learn from one another. -- Jonathan Deutsch,co-author of Barbecue: A Global History
Barbara Katz Rothman provides an unsettling comparison of two domains where women's labor has been colonized by men in the name of science and industry. In the process she gives a rare insight not only into what happens when the gap between everyday experience and expert knowledge is bridged in the name of professionalism, but also equips her readers with reasonable hope in cross-fertilizing lessons from the food and the natural birthing movements. Students, teachers and scholars will earn much in engaging with Katz Rothman's rich description and sharp critique.-Krishnendu Ray,author of The Migrant’s Table: Meals and Memories in Bengali * American Households *
A sociologist in the world of midwifery is introduced to food studies, and spots parallelseverywhere with the world of birth. Her wittily named study ranges insightfully from JuliaChild to natural childbirth, and from Lamaze and Pavlov to labour times, Cesareans andkale chips as she considers how & birth and food, once so profoundly part of womensworld of production, ultimately came to be acts of consumption * Times Higher Education *
Katz Rothman is at her most interesting when explaining why the modern medicalized birth which increases the speed and reduces the pain of labour is not always best for either mother or baby. * Times Literary Supplement *
Katz Rothmans deep examination of the history of midwives and childbirth in America allows her to explore not only the birth and food movements of today, but also much more: capitalism, privilege, the meaning of home, and some might argue the meaning of life. * Feminist Collections *
Rothman is passionate about her topic, and her writing style reflects her enthusiasm. The book is well-researched and fun and offers a useful model for the comparison of two important social movements. * Journal of American Culture *
A Bun in the Oven is an intriguing, often startling reading, especially if you have never given much consideration to birth and all that implies. It is also a very personal and moving account, in which the author shares episodes of her own life, her reflection on death, life, and suffering, as well as more general considerations about authority, gender, and power. * Huffington Post *
This book is intended for gender and womens studies, sociology, anthropology, and medical studies audiences, but would be useful also for psychologists interested in womens health, health psychology, and feminist psychology. The authoritative sociological and historical background that Rothman places the activities of eating and giving birth provides an extremely useful context from which to study individual choices and social behavior. * PsycCRITIQUES *
This book is readable, authoritative, and thoughtful. Its combination of scholarly expertise and heart-on-its-sleeve advocacy gives it a distinct voice that is sure to provoke reaction especially if it is, as Rothman and I would hope, taken up by readers who are not already foodies and birthies. * North American Dialogue *