Often, in conversations about midwifery, pay parity, working conditions, the level of workforce crisis the profession is working within, the goal of leaders is building resilience. It is a word that is more and more commonly bandied about, as midwives are stretched thinner and thinner in every possible work area. Whether midwives are employed, self … Continue reading On why resilience shouldn’t be an end goal for midwives: Or anyone
Midwives are in the news again. We can't tell our stories as individuals, because we risk breaching professional boundaries and client confidentiality. Our hands are tied, from telling our stories as midwives. But. I am more than a midwife. I am a woman, and I can tell that story. One day at work, I saw … Continue reading On Breaking Points.
Today, I heard some inspirational words: Attitudes are contagious. Make yours worth catching. Do what is Right, not what is policy. Shame is too blunt an instrument ever to be used to effect any kind of change. I heard more words of pain, from caring people wrung out by a thankless task: We have lost … Continue reading On Roaring
This last couple of weeks has really challenged my plan to Rise Above. I hoped to follow this advice: Whether it comes from Lao Tzu or not, it sounds smart. But, it seems like the world is conspiring to bring me to my knees. This week was "one of those weeks". I have been sick, … Continue reading On Rising Above
So, when I was twenty one, I was in the middle of a separation that would end in divorce, in the middle of a custody battle, in the middle of not knowing anything about myself, really. I knew what I believed: I believed I knew what love was, I was agnostic and regularly attended church; … Continue reading On growth
We're going on a witch hunt..... we're gonna catch a big one..... I'm not scared....... what a beautiful day...... This song has played over and over in my mind for the last 24 hours. I tried to drown it out with some other music, but then I looked at a newspaper. I thought I'd distract … Continue reading On Witch hunts and how to read research
Today, midwives in NZ are taking a case around gender discrimination to the High court. We are challenging the payments made for LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) midwives care provision to pregnant and new mums in NZ. We are saying that because midwifery is a traditionally and majority female workforce, it is paid at a lower … Continue reading On Midwives, pay parity, gender and what DO we actually earn?
