Sociology for Midwives

Carol Kingdon

Description

This book introduces key topics from sociology which are relevant to midwifery audiences. Introductions to the classical theorists and the more recent sociological perspectives that shape contemporary sociology are presented in the context of their applicability to midwifery practice. Complex sociological debates are presented in a simple manner, applying theory to clinical practice.

Sujets

• Médecine
• List of nursing specialties
• Midwifery

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 22 septembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781856424929
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title page
Sociology for Midwives
By Carol Kingdon



Publisher information
Quay Books Division, MA Healthcare Ltd, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB
© MA Healthcare Limited 2009
2014 digital version by Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers



Dedication
In memory of Andy Barnard



Note
While the author and publishers have made every effort, as far as is possible, to confirm the information in this book complies with the latest standards of practice and legislation, the author and publishers cannot take any responsibility for any incidents arising as a result of errors. Healthcare practice and knowledge are constantly changing and developing. Practitioners are encouraged to seek help where they are not competent to carry out a procedure.



About the Author
Carol Kingdon is a sociologist who has worked alongside midwives for over a decade. She is currently employed as a Research Fellow in the Women, Infant and Sexual Health (WISH) Research Group at the University of Central Lancashire. In addition to her research commitments she regularly teaches sociology, feminist theory and research methodology to pre- and post-registration midwives.



Acknowledgements
I am indebted to Andy Barnard who first introduced me to sociology as an A-level student, and to everyone who taught me at Staffordshire University (1992–1995), the University of Warwick (1995–1996) and Lancaster University (2001–2007). In particular, Gayle Letherby, Ellen Annandale, Vicky Singleton and Maureen McNeil each shaped my interest in the field of pregnancy and childbirth in important ways. Equally, this book would not have been possible without the insight of my midwifery colleagues at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Central Lancashire, especially Lisa Baker and Tina Lavender. I am also grateful to Maria Anguita at Quay Books for her support. Last but by no means least, I must acknowledge the contribution of my husband, Martin Flanagan, who has been there for me throughout this process.



Foreword
Sociology challenges our every day assumptions; it helps improve our understanding about how society works and gives an insight into individual and group interactions. Midwives need knowledge and skills to assist them to provide woman-centred, evidence-based and culturally relevant care that considers sociological factors and issues. The sociological concept of the ‘medicalisation of childbirth’ is a good example of how our actions are influenced by the structural characteristics of our society, yet we create and adjust those structural characteristics in our actions.
In a British society it is clearly apparent that the role of a midwife represents an established occupational structure, with clear expectations and how to behave being key determinants of the profession. This fits in with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) definition of a midwife. However this is not the case worldwide. It is important to recognise and understand the social implications of illness and health inequalities and how these impact on women’s lives, and the need for midwives to consider social risks as well as physical risks when caring for women.
The family is the primary focus of human socialisation and development, and midwives have a fundamental role to play in supporting new and existing families.
Similarly, the mass media can play an important role in influencing knowledge and attitudes towards pregnancy and birth, but there appears to be limited evidence relating to women’s responses to media representation of childbirth. This indicates that there is an urgent need to undertake research to address this deficit. Also, midwives should be encouraged to think about the ways in which our bodies are shaped by social influences and the increasing demands to have a perfect body, which makes women susceptible to the likelihood of cosmetic surgery following childbirth.
This book focuses on sociological theories, concepts and issues that are very relevant to midwifery care and practice. No assumptions of any previous knowledge of sociology are made, and it introduces the subject of sociology and the key figures that have helped develop sociology as a discipline. Both classical and contemporary theories are discussed and some examples that midwives can relate to are given. It makes clear distinctions between the concepts of society and culture, and the role of the midwife is explored with a specific focus on what being a midwife means.
Dr Mary Steen
Reader in Midwifery and Reproductive Health, University of Chester



1. Introducing sociology
Midwifery training in the UK has become embedded within a model of higher education that emphasises the study of academic subjects alongside the development of vocational knowledge and practical competencies. Sociology has been part of the pre-registration undergraduate midwifery curriculum since the 1990s. Nevertheless, a survey of pre- and post-registration midwifery education providers reports that whilst those responsible for teaching sociology to midwives value the subject, they acknowledge many students either find it ‘difficult’ or simply ‘just common sense’ (Church and Earle, 2006). This raises important questions about how sociology is currently perceived and understood by midwives.
This book aims to change midwives’ views of sociology for the better. It is primarily written for pre-registration midwives. However, it should also be of relevance to practising midwives studying for postgraduate courses or with a general interest in the field. No previous knowledge of sociology is assumed. The main body of the book focuses on substantive issues relevant to midwives, and the purpose of this chapter is to offer an accessible introduction to the subject of sociology and its relevance to midwifery practice. This chapter also lays the foundations for the rest of the book by introducing some key figures in the development of sociological theory, key concepts and key debates. The sociological concepts introduced are not simply common sense, but neither are they difficult to grasp and some terms may already be familiar. Wherever possible I have tried to avoid the use of unnecessary jargon and words highlighted in bold can also be found in the glossary at the end of the book.
It is my intention that this chapter serves to capture midwives’ interest. I also hope that it will enable readers to begin to think more critically about how societies operate and to question their own taken-for-granted assumptions and beliefs. This is because learning sociology requires individuals to take a step back from their own personal interpretations of the world, to look anew at the social influences that shape our lives (Giddens, 1989). Sociology is more than a discipline concerned with social issues, injustices and inequality; it challenges our everyday assumptions to advance understanding about how society works.
Defining sociology
The British Sociological Association (BSA) defines sociology as the study of how society is organised and how we experience life (British Sociological Association, 2007). This definition highlights both how broad the subject of sociology is and the central concerns that unite all sociologists. Sociologists may investigate virtually any aspect of social life. Within sociology there are many branches and sub-fields. Perhaps most relevant to midwives are the sociology of health and illness (or medical sociology as it is also known), the sociology of human reproduction (which includes contemporary feminist approaches to pregnancy and childbirth), and the sociology of the body. All of the chapters in this book draw on sociological work from these fields, but for the purposes of this chapter I focus principally on issues that unite the discipline of sociology as a whole.
All sociologists share a common concern with the structure of societies, organisations and groups, and how people interact within these contexts. For sociologists the two main determinants of social outcomes (or in other words, how society works) are structure and/or agency . The exact definitions of structure and agency employed by individual sociologists vary according to their underlying theoretical perspective. Nevertheless, the term ‘structure’ is typically used to describe any relatively enduring pattern or interrelationship of social elements (Jary and Jary, 1991). For example, in British society the judicial, educational and occupational structures are surface social structures, whilst the rules that reproduce social systems, such as language, provide examples of deeper social structures. The actions of all of us are influenced by the structural characteristics of the societies in which we are brought up and live. However, at the same time we create (and also to some extent alter) those structural characteristics in our actions. The concept of ‘agency’ relates to the power of individuals or groups to operate independently of the determining constraints of social structure (Jary and Jary, 1991). For example, the provision of a state healthcare system is a social structure that can be challenged and changed by individual agency (i.e. individuals who pay for private healthcare). There are many competing theoretical perspectives within sociology, however all are to a greater or lesser extent concerned with the relationship between structure and agency.
Sociologists make important distinctions between the concepts of socie