Fundamentals of Midwifery: A Textbook for Students (27 page)

Key points

The society in which we live has a significant impact on our lives.

Society’s views and social norms can label people as being deviant.

Midwives have a role to play in protecting vulnerable people within society.

It is essential that midwives put aside their own views and beliefs in order to be caring and
compassionate.
Conclusion‌‌
Some key sociological theories and how they can be applied to childbearing and maternity
services have been explored and linked to appropriate issues. Sociology has been identified as56 a key area of knowledge which is required by student midwives and healthcare practitioners (NMC 2009). The circumstances in which people live and into which they are born have a sig- nificant impact on their lives, hopes and aspirations. There has been a discussion on how society views specific groups and behaviours and how this can lead to stigma and discrimination which in turn links to ill health and reduced life chances. There are many elements within a society which can impact on a person’s health; this chapter has identified and explored some of these issues and how they can affect the woman and her family. The family has been identified as a key structure within everyone’s life which can have negative and positive implications. Historical changes in family structures have been examined and how these have impacted on reproduc- tion and the lives of family members. The activities within the chapter should have helped you to examine your own views and experiences within society to help gain a better understanding of how these can impact on women and their families.
End of chapter activities
Crossword
1 2345 6789 10 111213
Across
1.
A society in which men are the most pow-
8.
Treating a person less favourably than erful and influential another due to a particular characteristic
3.
A social group which share certain finan-
9.
Rules and beliefs which members of any cial, cultural or social characteristics society are expected to adhere to

A group of people related by common
12.
Shared characteristics which can be geo- descent or heredity graphical including cultural traditions and

Key institution of society languages

The view that one person is inferior to
13.
A socially constructed identity another due to a particular characteristic
Down
2.
Circumstances which mean that a person
10.
A lived experiencedoes not have the means for survival
11.
A group of people connected together by
4.
Everydayactivitiesinwhichfamilymembers a shared culture communicate with each other and to thosearound them that they are a family57
Find out more
Below is a list of things you can find out about to enhance your knowledge of the issues and topics covered in this chapter. Make notes using the chapter content, the references and further reading identified, local policies and guidelines and discussions with colleagues.
1.
Find out how you would report any safeguarding concerns you had about a member of a family you were caring for. Who would you go to for support?
2.
Look at the census information [available online] http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guidemethod/census/2011/index.html paying particular attention to health inequalities and lifestyle and behaviours. If you compare the life expectancy measures for Cornwall and Glasgow City you can see significant differences. Why do you think this is? Have a look at your area and compare that to an area with a lower or higher rate.
3.
Think about the following questions:What is the role of a woman; does this change when she becomes pregnant and then a mother? What is the role of a man; does this change when he becomes a father?If pregnancy is not an illness, how can midwives explain all the treatments, appointments and screening which are expected?What events and experiences have formed your identity? What impact have these had on your life?Do you believe that infertility is an illness? Is it the right of all couples to have a baby regardless of cost?
4.
Draw a family structure diagram and think about how this has changed over the generations.
5.
Read the article: Oliver, M. (2013) The social model of disability: thirty years on.
Disability & Society
28(7), pp. 1024–1026. Do you agree with his views regarding the welfare reforms?
6.
In order for society to be protected against infectious diseases then a certain number of people need to be vaccinated or immunised against the disease. Read the article below and think about how parents who do not participate in these programmes are viewed by the rest of society.Griffith, H. (2013) Wales measles: 1200 MMR jabs given at drop in clinics. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ uk-wales-22048635
Glossary of terms
Class
A social group which share certain financial, cultural or social characteristics.
₅₈
Culture
A lived experience within a specific group.
Disability
A physical or mental impairment; the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal day-to-day activities.
Domestic abuse
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behav- iour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.