Motherhood In Nursing

MATERNITY CARE IN THE EYES OF LESBIAN MOTHERS

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

It is not an easy task to define motherhood, but people can understand it as the relationship between mother and child with intrinsic sociological, physiological and affective aspects. These aspects have its genesis since the first moments of planning to have a child, through physiological conception, or through adoption, and they extend throughout life. The establishment of his relationship varies among women and cultures (Freitas, 2015).

In the 60’s decade, with the strengthening of feminist movements, women started to gain space in the job market gradually (Scavone & Maternidade, 2001). In general, the feminist’s movement brought up discussions about

And, they should build in a strategic way to formulate practices of health education, stimulating the criticality, reflection, self-care, and especially, about the ways of conception. Thus, nurses and/or midwives provide an integral and holistic care grounded on dialogue and education horizontality, according to the social and economic aspects of these women (Alvim, 2007). Many midwives feel that the best way to avoid discriminatory practice is to ‘treat everyone the same’. But this approach has problems. Just as being ‘colour blind’ can obscure the real needs of women from minority ethnic communities, so an insistence that lesbians are ‘just like everyone else’ can mean that any specific requirements are not recognised or acknowledged (Stewart, 1997). Working with diversity is not about categorising people as ‘different’, nor is it about treating them as special cases; it is about recognising and understanding each woman’s individual needs, so as to be able to provide the same high standard of care for everyone.

From this historical and social premise, it is possible to affirm that the maternity experience is new to lesbians. Therefore, it is necessary for this theme to have more space in academic research and discussions.

Thus,

Empowerment defined within the feminist process includes the process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individuals can take action to improve their lives (Gutierrez, 1993). Through the empowerment of women, the final goal of feminist theory becomes clear. The final goal of feminist theory is to seek change in a patriarchal society via political activism. Feminist clinicians encourage empowered clients to participate in political action events on behalf of lesbian mothers that are not yet empowered. There is credence placed on the impact of the empowered empowering.

The overall goals of feminist theory are clear, to understand the experiences of women within a patriarchal society, empower women, and influence societal change via political activism. The goals are especially suited to working with lesbian parents because they provide a framework to acknowledge the disadvantages faced by lesbians based on the fact that they are women, and part of a sexual minority as well. Moreover, the theory focuses on empowerment of women and seeking political change in the form of equality for lesbian relationships and