How would you feel about having a male midwide

[Lardlizard]

Just interested in the points of view

It wouldn't have bothered me! I had a male student doctor break my waters, i think he was more traumatised by it than me

Not for me. I’m a big believer in “women’s mysteries”.

What on earth are women's mysteries?

Are they Agatha Christie novels?

It's odd no one asks, how we'd feel having a male consultant, doctor, or registrar dealing with us. Why because many are Male?

Let's not stereotype shall we.

If we want to stop the stereotypes maybe women on the whole should be more accepting of male midwives.

Yet again women are being told to change their response to male violence and sexually predatory behaviours. We aren’t the ones that need to change, men do. Then and only then, will we see more women comfortable with males performing intimate care.

But I would far rather have the male midwives described on here than the female midwives that I encountered so by banning all men you do remove my choice.

But you're not choosing, are you? It's about sex class, not personality. Do you think women always make inferior HCP?

It's because the midwives are there in a caring role. Even when the consultants march into the room, the midwife is still in the room caring for you. She's the first line in the chain and your advocate.

I don't not want male HCP because I'm a sexist, Mouse. I don't want any male HCP at all because I'm not comfortable with men performing intimate care.

“What on earth are women's mysteries?

Are they Agatha Christie novels”

Those inverted commas were intended to be ironic. Or something. I just think that some women’s things should be women only. I don’t think men should stay overnight in maternity wards either. And I think that if possible mother’s should talk to girls about periods. Butt out, blokes.

I don't not want male HCP because I'm a sexist, Mouse. I don't want any male HCP at all because I'm not comfortable with men performing intimate care.

Sorry duplicate post

But those saying only female staff are choosing sex over ability.

Just because you stipulate a female midwife or dr doesn't mean they will be any good.

I would rather any of the male midwives spoken about on here than the female ones that I had so if you remove those male staff you remove any chance of them looking after me.

No actually. Don't restrict women's choices! They are poor enough already, why would you want that, ad a woman I mean?

As a women, I don't feel I have poor choices. If you do, I'm sorry you feel that way.

There are certain things that need to be sex exempted, and I think midwifery should be one. There is no absolute need for male MWs women have been doing the job for always.There are however very good reasons for not having male MWs

I can't agree with this. These 'good reasons' for not having male MWs are all based on judging all men as a potential danger because some men do bad things to women. This is why people start bringing things like race into arguments like this. It wrong to judge a whole group of people based on what some of them do.

Couldn't give a monkeys as long as they are good at their job. I've got the same bits as 50% of the population. And mine won't be the first he's seen.

I don't not want male HCP because I'm a sexist, Mouse. I don't want any male HCP at all because I'm not comfortable with men performing intimate care.

As is your choice and I support you having that choice.

Personally, for my own reasons, I prefer male hcps. As is my choice.

No, it's not the same.

Yes of course it is.

It is about choosing who we feel comfortable with and who we accept seeing our bodies.

So my choice is just as valid as yours.

Being uncomfortable with strange men is a feeling many women have. You think women are inferior HCPs and should be able to reject them because you are sexist. It's totally different.

It wouldn't be removing choice if no men at all were midwives due to it being considered respectful of women's privacy and dignity (a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim)

What’s the legitimate aim and the proportionate means if achieving it?

Given that males work in intimate care in other areas including childbirth I doubt you’d be able to demonstrate that.

It really isn't the same. Privacy and dignity in single sex spaces is completely different.

Given that males work in intimate care in other areas including childbirth I doubt you’d be able to demonstrate that.

It's a hypothetical. Please read the thread.

Yet again women are being told to change their response to male violence and sexually predatory behaviours. We aren’t the ones that need to change, men do. Then and only then, will we see more women comfortable with males performing intimate care.

But these male midwives are not showing these behaviours. Some men do need to change. But until they do, you really think decent men should all be judged the same and not get to be a midwife. I would hate to be personally judged because a group I 'belonged to' had some people in it which were bad.

I wouldn’t care about a male midwife, I’ve never been bothered about the sex of any HCP. I’ve almost always had great experiences with male HCPs in settings that are about female specific health issues. What I did find, when I had children, was that lactation advice from someone who hadn’t breast fed was utterly useless. So, based on that experience, I’d be reluctant to have a male breastfeeding advisor, but only as reluctant as I would be to have a female advisor who hadn’t breastfed.

I do understand why lots of women are reluctant given the way our society constantly offers women up to the male gaze, sexual assaults on women are almost always male on female and the way male ridicule and dismissiveness of female biology is endemic from a young age

Little, you didn't answer my earlier question (which is fine), so can I ask if you'd honestly reject a female midwife and ask for a male?

They could be absolutely lovely men and many women wouldn't be comfortable.