Abstract
When traditional medicine encountered Western colonial medicine, what kind of affections happened in Dutch East Indies? From the development of midwife training system, it shows the issues of the political and economic concerns of Dutch authorities and how the policies of health welfare performed, moreover, the transition of midwives’ status in local society and adjustment and connection between different cultures. This thesis tried to analysis the historical materials, journals of 19th century, official publications and previous studies, in order to understand the development of midwife training system, the major considerations of colonial policies and the attitude of local people. Base on these backgrounds, this research will reorganize the appearance between local people and Dutch colonists, furthermore, gender issue of local midwives. In using these archives, I hope I could figure out the deeper social construction and colonial society in Dutch East Indies. The midwife training school performed for only 43 years. Most previous studies of medical education focused on doctor-djawa school and male physicians. But it’s not enough to discuss with medical education only focused on doctor-djawa training system. Training midwife was one of statics method that Dutch authorities wanted to improve obstetric care in Dutch East Indies. Knowing both traditional and Western medicine, they as mediators expand the knowledge to each group. They cooperated with Dutch authorities to propagandize Western medicine among local people. Moreover, they had their own status and economic ability in local society and played a special role in this period.