ABSTRACT
If there is a weakness of comparative maternity policy studies, it is that they sacrifice depth for breadth. The sheer amount of material generated in comparative research makes it difficult to do careful analyses of the history and culture of the societies being studied. Although this is an understandable omission, failure to dive into culture and history leaves a gap in our understanding of how maternity policies come to be-of how ideas about care are transformed into policies that determine care.
