Grandmothers reborn

Allomaternal care as an uncharted territory of Spanish History

Abstract

Scholars are beginning to recognize the profound connection between grandmothers and children throughout history, often overlooked in social history's focus on more visible age groups. This paper challenges misconceptions about elderly individuals in historical societies and emphasizes the vital role of grandmothers in childcare dynamics, particularly in the earliest days and months of human life. Longevity, a distinctive feature of humans, underscores the significance of postmenopausal life and the presence of elderly women in communities. By examining findings from social anthropology and Spanish social history, this paper sheds light on the enduring importance of grandmothers despite high infant mortality rates in past eras.