It is also irrelevant it’s far from irrelevant!
It’s relevant because parents especially mothers’ education level has been proven to have an impact on pregnancy outcomes and early years development for children in a variety of ways.
Generally speaking one area is the lower education level the lower earning/income level. It gives them an idea if you may have difficulties financially.
Though I personally think it’d probably make more sense to just ask you to tick an income bracket but people would be even MORE resistant to that as people hate discussing money in Uk especially.
Another is low birth weight and premature birth - more likely in mothers of lower educational attainment.
It’s also relevant as it gives the midwife a rough idea of what level and how to pitch information to you. Although arguably it could be always presented at the most basic level but then people would complain about them being patronising and condescending, or just “switch off” and not retain the info.
I find that offensive if true. My children are in single figures and they can read.
Functional illiteracy in the Uk is around 17% in Uk adults and there is a wide range in literacy levels where someone may be classed as literate but have a fairly poor command of especially written English.
There are also issues regarding the type of language used to communicate certain guidance to differing demographics.
You seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder about this op.
Yes there is a difference between general intelligence and academic ability and attainment.
While I hold 2 degrees myself I have friends and family who are very intelligent, well read and well informed people who left school under the age of 16 without any formal qualifications.
Equally I know people with degrees who apparently can barely bloody spell and communicate pretty poorly and are very ill informed outside their sphere of expertise or interest as they choose to be narrow minded.
BUT generally speaking yes people with a higher education are more aware of and understanding of a wider variety of ideas and knowledge.
Can you provide a source for this?
If you simply google
“Impact of maternal education level on pregnancy and birth outcomes” you’ll get loads of hits!
https://core.ac.uk/reader/6250060
Here’s a slightly more recent one
https://jech.bmj.com/content/69/9/826
But honestly there are loads!
As a sort of aside if you’re this sensitive this early on in your parenting experience I suspect you’re in for a rude awakening!
You will be judged and assessed based on a number of criteria some of which will be prejudicial whatever you do and say as a mother. Best you start getting used to it!
And I agree your own prejudices are showing too!
I’m working class as is my brother who’s even more qualified he’s currently working on a 2nd masters.
A degree educates you in a certain subject. The world is full of educated idiots. you’re really swerving into a different debate there. A good uni and good educators will ensure students not only learn the subject but also it’s real world applications and encourage them to broaden their horizons generally, perhaps by using the subject as a basis but really they should be encouraging their students to read and learn widely and to continue doing so after uni.
With the level of education you and the father claim to have surely a little research would be something you could easily do and you could have fairly quickly found, read and understood the relevant studies?
Actual medical questions are fine. This IS it has real world medical relevance!
And actions ARE occurring regarding improving people’s educational attainment. I’m 48 I left school at 16 following GCSEs, that was fairly normal for my class and region at that time. I worked and after first few months working fully realised getting a-levels would make a major difference in the job market and went to evening classes to get them. Worked a few more years in slightly better jobs and then went to uni for the first time as a mature student, nursing and then worked as a nurse for several years but ultimately found it wasn’t the right career for me for a variety of reasons, plus I was a trailing spouse at this point so having to take whatever work I could get. Split from ex, then a wee bit after that went back to uni to retrain.
My parents left school at 14, my grandparents well they all left at or before 14 too.
My dd also left school at 16 but for her it was a HUGE deal and far from the norm (complicated reasons but basically school massively let her down in final year) most of her friends stayed on until 18, and a significant number of them went straight to uni - even though this is a very deprived area and the vast majority are from working class and even plain poor backgrounds.
Dd worked for a few years, certain things changed for her and motivated her to return to education and that’s where she is now away studying.
Various govts over the last century have made changes that mean that most Uk school children now stay on until 18 and a significantly higher number now are able to go to uni. It’s not perfect yet far from and in some ways we’re regressing but generally speaking yes, people are staying in education longer
And now op has seemingly flounced!
Goodness help them if they ever experience ACTUAL prejudice