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Women and midwives in partnership: a problematic relationship?
Author(s) -
Fleming Valerie E.M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1998.00474.x
Subject(s) - general partnership , hegemony , nursing , nursing practice , work (physics) , psychology , medicine , sociology , medical education , political science , mechanical engineering , politics , law , engineering
Midwives in New Zealand have been practising independently of medicine and nursing since 1990 using the concept of partnership as a basis for their practice. This article shows, however, that the beliefs which underpin the practice of the midwives are not always the same as those of their clients. Supporting evidence is provided in the form of verbatim data provided by participants. Three major areas in which contradictions were found were in the work of midwives, the knowledge for practice and reflections on the experience. It is recommended that midwives become more visible by removing themselves from hegemonic structures, valuing alternative forms of knowledge and respecting the knowledge of their clients.