When I ask my medical students to describe their image of a woman who elects to birth with a midwife rather than with an obstetrician, they generally describe a woman who wears long cotton skirts, braids her hair, eats only organic vegan food, does yoga, and maybe drives a VW microbus.

The quote "When I ask my medical students to describe their image of a woman who elects to birth with a midwife rather than with an obstetrician, they generally describe a woman who wears long cotton skirts, braids her hair, eats only organic vegan food, does yoga, and maybe drives a VW microbus." by Alice Dreger highlights the stereotypes and assumptions that are often associated with women who choose alternative forms of childbirth, such as using a midwife instead of a traditional obstetrician. Dreger, a scholar and advocate for medical ethics, is pointing out how certain cultural stereotypes about women’s choices can shape medical students’ perceptions and biases.

The quote is both a critique and an observation of how mainstream medicine sometimes views alternative healthcare practices. The imagery Dreger describes—a woman who embraces natural and holistic lifestyles, such as eating organic vegan food, practicing yoga, and driving a VW microbus—reflects a stereotype of the “earth mother” or “hippie” who rejects more conventional, often medicalized, forms of care. These stereotypes can lead to a dismissive or reductive view of women who choose midwifery for childbirth, as if their decisions are based solely on lifestyle choices rather than thoughtful, informed health decisions.

Dreger’s observation also sheds light on the biases that may exist in medical education. Medical students, who are taught by professionals trained in traditional or medicalized models of childbirth, may lack a nuanced understanding of the midwifery model. They may not be aware that many women who choose to birth with a midwife do so for a variety of reasons, including personal preferences, a desire for a less interventionist approach, or a belief in the benefits of natural birth—not simply as a reflection of their lifestyle or appearance.

As a bioethicist and scholar of medical practices, Alice Dreger often explores how the medical community interacts with societal norms and stereotypes. Through this quote, she encourages a more open-minded and respectful understanding of childbirth choices, urging medical students to challenge their assumptions about alternative health practices and to recognize that the decision to birth with a midwife can be a legitimate, informed choice rather than one driven by preconceived cultural ideas.