To thinking asking mothers educational level at booking appointment is shaming

[Ivybutterfly]

At my midwife booking appointment I was asked what age I left full time education. I remember the same question last time. They ask whether you have a degree or not. I found it rude and inappropriate. It is also irrelevant. I just sucked it up. My DH on the other hand was raging. He said it was shaming and disgusting. I agree. I think I am going to complain. Why so they ask such a rude question which has no relevance to pregnancy?

@justchecking1 is absolutely right. The question is not meant to shame, it is asked so they can take that information, combine it with other information such as maternal age, whether or not the parents smoke etc to identify which pregnancies are more high risk. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but it would be in your child’s and your interests to do so.

Not everything is about the individual. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want for the collective.

The data is used to prevent/intervene against poorer infant outcomes.
It is protective measure for the most vulnerable.

It is only shaming - if you choose to interpret it that way. Which shows you are thinking more about yourself than the collective good such a question may be able to do.

I'm not saying it is!

However, on a population level, mothers with fewer years of education have poorer outcomes.

It's a correlation, not necessarily causal.

It doesn't necessarily apply on an individual level, just because it's true on a population level.

The correlation isn't there for the father's educational level so there's no point in asking this. They don't not ask for some sexist reason, it's just not statistically relevant

Don't take it personally, they ask everyone. It's not really a cause for complaint. I'm sure they'll explain why they're asking if you ask them to

I worry for some poor working class mother who goes there alone and is made to feel worthless. I also find it condescending. People just assume that if you don’t have a degree you won’t breastfeed and will smoke and drink? That is shameful classism.

And actually, although it isn’t “shaming” (as in, deliberately so), it IS an intrusive question and they should explain their reason for asking. People on here pretending it isn’t common for people to experience sensitivity about their education (not least because there is a clear link to social class) are being very obtuse indeed.

As a few previous posters have said, the mother's education level is very relevant to potential outcomes for your child. Get your well educated husband to do some research, so he looks like less of a twat.

I agree with your husband.
I also remember on booking in forms for my 1st and 2nd pregnancies how long i had been with my partner , i was quite annoyed about that at the time.

@justchecking1

There's a fair few studies that show poorer maternal and child outcomes for women with fewer years of education.

It's part of their early screening programme to identify women who are at higher risk of less favourable outcomes.

Like others have said, you don't have to answer, but it's definitely not a shaming tactic!

This....

@flaviaritt 😂😂

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want for the collective.

But not this. You don’t have to answer anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Healthcare IS about the individual.

What happens if you lie?

@myohmywhatawonderfulday

Not everything is about the individual. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want for the collective.

The data is used to prevent/intervene against poorer infant outcomes.
It is protective measure for the most vulnerable.

It is only shaming - if you choose to interpret it that way. Which shows you are thinking more about yourself than the collective good such a question may be able to do.

Exactly. Bit of a hissy fit there, OP. Get over yourself and your degree, if you have one it's really no biggie.

It’s condescending to assume someone without a degree would feel worthless being asked the question (also condescending to say “some poor working class mother”). It’s also condescending to assume that degrees don’t cross class lines. No assumptions are being made about the correlations between education level and outcomes, they’re statistically relevant.

I love some of the attempted justifications for these absurd and irrelevant questions (no doubt from people with degrees!).

But I wouldn't bother complaining- after all unless you have a few degrees they won't take notice of your opinions.

It's only rude or shaming if YOU and your DH think it's shameful not to have a degree.

They collect this information for numerous reasons. And for the future of women I think it is important to track this. But it's really about statistics so I don't know why you feel so judged.

I agree, by this logic anyone could ask it for ‘research’ purposes.

But they're trying to be nice aren't they? They're trying to identify who might need support.
You're just using this to self congratulate with your husband about how enormously clever you both are.

@Mylittlepony374 I did actually do a search before coming on Mumsnet. And links anyone had would be great. Also: can we please be nice. Interesting I thought that question would make some people feel worthless and then some posters are being condescending.

I haven't got a degree, and I have a crappy minimum wage job, and I still can't get offended at having the option to answer a question a midwife asked. The outrage is utterly bizarre.

But they're trying to be nice aren't they? They're trying to identify who might need support.

What “support” do they get?

@arethereanyleftatall education doesn’t necessarily make you clever. A degree educates you in a certain subject. The world is full of educated idiots.

It's not being asked for "research purposes", the research has already been done!

Asking the questions is the result of years of research which has identified some groups, such as those with lower educational attainment, as having poorer outcomes.

It's designed to help those who may need it

many people from poorer countries have had no chance to stay on in school beyond 14.
they may have been assisting at home births, and deaths, and rearing babies from a young age.
they are quite likely to know more and be a safer more practical mother than someone with a doctorate in astro-physics or early mongolian music.
i know several such people. and i would trust them with the care of any vulnerable person, baby or elder, whom i loved.

It wasn’t in my booking in questionnaire! maybe it’s different for different areas?

What did you think of the question ‘are you and the father related ?’ 😬

I am really interested in how education level effects birth weight?