I have worked as a
Registered Nurse, in Psychiatry, and also as a Midwife, and I have never
gotten used to the amount of internal bickering and horizontal violence that
is perpetrated by women, towards other women. I can tell you from my
experiences in these fields that Doctors do not sit around, discussing each
others practice, bitching and moaning about whether they agree with someone’s
philosophies. They might be unprofessional bastards some of the time,
but they are united in their common goals, and in their public persona.
As we fight internally about the best way to get women to see the light, they
are there shining it brightly and the women are drawn to it clearly! I
don’t think for a minute we should, as midwives and birth activists, see
ourselves as having to sell out and become an entity that has no integrity or
spirit in order to get the message across. But I do think that we all
need to take a leaf out of some other professions books, and show a bit of
respect to those that have gone before us, and encouragement for those that
will pave the way ahead. Eating our young is no way to carry on the
cause; it just further perpetuates the fragmentation that already
exists. Let’s welcome Kelly, Janet, and everyone else who has the energy
to do things a bit differently, and also keep our feet firmly planted on the
ground, so we can continue to carry on getting the word out there in any way
we can.
Nicely said Tania,
but you've got to admit there are just some days when you don't want to
justify what you know is well researched and evidence based just to get the
word out to people who are not interested.
Lack of respect for
everyone I don't think is in it. I have nothing but admiration for the
work done by Kelly, Janet and everyone "working for the cause" but on a day to
day basis it's wearing. On a day like today when I'm tired have a
headache, quarelled with the husband due to my birth obsession I find it
hard to see the middle ground. Slated by the uninformed is one thing but
to be told to make it all more sellable and main stream just seems too hard.
Take up insurance to make yourself more Profesional and get the women
interested in whats on offer. Sell it like a business, move into the 21st
centary. It doesn't seem to be about birth.
Maybe it's just a bad
day.
Lisa Independent
midwife.
