Dear Kerry,
I understand why midwives hate to be associated with the term 'witch'. I
also understand that the concept of a 'witch hunt' implies an organised
system of terror and oppression such as witch hunts in the middle ages which
is clearly not what is happening now. So why use the concept of witch hunt
at all?
Because in today's world the forms of oppression and suppression are much
more covert and subtle. They operate at the psychic level to engender fear,
silence and passivity. Oppression against midwives and women operates
pervasively in our culture. This means that unless an individual has freed
themselves from all the misinformation about the dangers of birth and
midwifery then each of us, to a greater or lesser extent, participates in
the oppression and suppression of midwives and childbearing women; even when
this means we participate in our own oppression and we silence and terrify
ourselves and each other.
I think the concept of the witch hunt is still a useful concept because
(even without the proof) I KNOW that the practice of independent midwives is
much more scrutinised in ways of that lead to the attachment of blame when
things go wrong, than are obstetricians or midwives who work in
institutions. When I see midwives in independent practice picked off
(however randomly) and made to answer charges, so that the pool of
independently practising midwives gets smaller and smaller I think the
concept of a witch hunt helps us to conceptualised what is going on because
we certainly can't SEE that oppression and suppression working and yet we
KNOW it is happening.
I'd be happy to drop the concept of a witch hunt if anyone can provide a
better concept to describe the cases against so many IP midwives and the
resultant fear in the remaining ones. If we, as midwives, deny that there is
anything sinister occurring this will lead inexorably, I believe, to
midwifery being practised in only in institutions, under medical protocols
and the demise of midwifery as an independent discipline. No midwife, I
believe, wants to see this but maybe I'm wrong?
Kathleen Fahy
-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry McGovern [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 1999 3:58
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: I hate the term "witch hunt"
Hi all!!
I'm a fairly "conservative" person when it comes to dealing with the
bureaucracy and seeing what needs to be done and understanding why things
are done. I can weave a good reasoning for most bureaucratic bungles.
And, in doing so, I hope I can lead us out of the mire.
But this one has me spitting chips.
I heard a TV announcement this afternoon that a doctor has been charged
with manslaughter for the death of a baby girl.
The cyncial bit of me says "Well. There you go. Finally a doctor is being
held accountable. Not before time. That proves the witch hunt thing is
rubbish. Great."
Then I heard the doctor's name.
Guess what??? A doctor supportive of women birthing at home.
Seems the witch hunt is alive and well
What do you reckon???
With reluctance
Kerry
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