Reflecting on practice to theorise empowerment for women: Using Foucault's concepts

Fahy, Kathleen

doi:10.1016/s1445-4386(02)80017-9

Cited by 54 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Health professionals who want women to submit to their authority (to be docile) normally use a subtle form of coercive power that Foucault called 'disciplinary power' (13,14).…”

Section: Jurisdictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Birth Territory: A Theory for Midwifery Practice

Fahy¹,

Parratt²,

Foureur³

et al. 2011

Theory for Midwifery Practice

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124

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The theory of Birth Territory describes explains and predicts the relationships between the environment of the individual birth room, issues of power and control, and the way the woman experiences labour physiologically and emotionally.The theory was synthesised inductively from empirical data generated by the authors in their roles as midwives and researchers. It takes a critical post-structural feminist perspective and expands on some of the ideas of Michel Foucault. Theory synthesis was also informed by current research about the embodied self and the authors' scholarship in the fields of midwifery, human biology, sociology and psychology.In order to demonstrate the significance of the theory it is applied to two clinical stories that both occur in hospital but are otherwise different. This analysis supports the central proposition that when midwives use 'midwifery guardianship' to create and maintain the ideal Birth Territory then the woman is most likely to give birth naturally, be satisfied with the experience and adapt with ease in the post birth period. These benefits together with the reduction in medical interventions also benefit the baby. In addition, a positive Birth Territory is posited to have a broader impact on the woman's partner, family and society in general.

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“…Health professionals who want women to submit to their authority (to be docile) normally use a subtle form of coercive power that Foucault called 'disciplinary power' (13,14).…”

Section: Jurisdictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Disciplinary power is a subtle and manipulative form of power that is usually not able to be detected until the subject of power offers resistance (10,14,17).…”

Section: Jurisdictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth Territory: A Theory for Midwifery Practice

Fahy¹,

Parratt²,

Foureur³

et al. 2011

Theory for Midwifery Practice

Self Cite

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Post-structuralist ideas can, therefore, be harnessed for the benefit of midwifery research without sacrificing our commitment to improving people's lives by generating knowledge (Mitchell 1996, Heslop 1997, Walker 1997, Francis 2000, Allen and Harding 2001, Stajduhar et al 2001, Fahy 2002). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-structural feminist interpretive interactionism

Jefford

Sundin²

2013

Nurse Researcher

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Aim To present an adaptation of interpretive interactionism that incorporates and honours feminist values and principles. Background Interpretive interactionism as described by Denzin can be useful when examining interactive processes. It is especially useful when events affect turning points in people's lives. When issues of power and power imbalances are of interest, a critical post-structural lens may be of use to the researcher. The authors planned to examine the interactions between midwives and women at the 'epiphaneal' points of decision making during second-stage labour. It became clear that it was necessary to honour and thus incorporate feminist principles and values in their methodology.

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“…This view was supported by Fahy (2002) who used a feminist praxis research design, to study 33 women during pregnancy using interviews, participant observation (acting as a community midwife to these women) and reflective journaling. She used Foucault's concepts on disciplinary power, a subtle form of coercive power used by health professionals to 'encourage' clients to submit to their authority (Fahy et al, 2006), to describe the interplay of power relationships between the woman, midwife and obstetrician during pregnancy.…”

Section: The Position Of Power In Maternity Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…She found that the power hierarchy was strong when the obstetrician was challenged either by the midwife or the woman, and in these circumstances the obstetrician was likely to utilise coercive disciplinary power, frequently by threatening women that not to conform could result in a poor outcome either to herself or her unborn child (Fahy, 2002).…”

Section: The Position Of Power In Maternity Carementioning

confidence: 99%