Birthing Genre: Conventions of Rhetorical Situation and Accessibility of Information in Midwifery Manuals.

This article examines shared genre conventions in 18th- and 21st-century midwifery manuals, highlighting their role as cultural arbiters that produce and reproduce professional knowledge and socio-cultural values. Despite significant advances in medical science and technology, these manuals consistently emphasize safety and health for birthing persons and children, employing stable rhetorical structures such as detailed front matter (title pages and prefaces) and accessible information design (definitions, step-by-step procedures). The study reveals that manuals function not only as instructional texts but also as social and political documents reflecting hierarchical authority, ethical commitments, and community practices across centuries. By comparing selected manuals from both periods, the article underscores the enduring importance of genre conventions in managing specialized knowledge and guiding midwifery practice.