Stereotyping as a professional defence mechanism
Abstract
The material in this series of papers is derived from a Department of Health funded evaluation of the MIDIRS Informed Choice leaflets (Kirkham and Stapleton, 2001). In this paper we discuss the use of stereotyping as a defence mechanism which appeared to assist midwives in coping with the pressures of contemporary professional life. Midwives sometimes misjudged women's ability and willingness to participate in their maternity care and, as a consequence, women were negatively labelled, for example, as demanding and/or as uncooperative. Midwives often formulated their opinions about their clients on the basis of circumstances over which childbearing women exercised little control: housing tenure, age and/or social class. Even when such judgments were shown to be erroneous, they generally endured throughout the maternity episode and sometimes reappeared in a subsequent pregnancy. The corrosive effects of stereotyping are examined, particularly in relationship to choice and decision-making. The article concludes with a brief mention of the short-term benefits of stereotyping as a coping mechanism in the face of limited resources.
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There is also evidence that shows stereotyping can assist in coping with the pressures of HP practice.
“There is also evidence that shows stereotyping can assist in coping with the pressures of HP practice.109”
From Health professionals implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: a scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [109]
Patients with low levels of SES can often be viewed as needing less information because of an assumption they do not wish to be informed because they ask less questions or because they do not have the capacity to retain information, and this assumption actually helps the clinic to regain lost time.
“Patients with low levels of SES can often be viewed as needing less information because of an assumption they do not wish to be informed because they ask less questions or because they do not have the capacity to retain information, and this assumption actually helps the clinic to regain lost time.109”
From Health professionals implicit bias of patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects on clinical decision-making: a scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [109]
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Hean, S., Clark, J., Adams, K., & Humphris, D. (2006) · Journal of Interprofessional Care · doi:10.1080/13561820600646546 · Cited by 166
“It is a means by which health professionals are able, for example, to take shortcuts and cope with the demands placed upon them during their interactions with both the client and the employing organisation (Kirkham et al., 2002).”
BackgroundDykes, F. (2005) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2004.12.006 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
“Therefore, the inverse care law applied, as reported in other studies (Lipsky, 1980; Townsend and Davidson, 1992; Kirkham et al., 2002a).”
BackgroundMethodResultMetcalfe, D., & Dev, H. (2001) · British medical journal · doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7317.837 · Cited by 134
Cook, K., & Stoecker, J. (2014) · doi:10.22230/jripe.2014v4n2a151 · Cited by 49
Barriers to Effective Communication
McCabe, C., & Timmins, F. (2013) · doi:10.1007/978-1-137-34449-6_5 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Job, C., Adenipekun, B., Cleves, A., Gill, P., & Samuriwo, R. (2024) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081723 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Professional Stereotypes of Interprofessional Education Naive Pharmacy and Nursing Students
Thurston, M., Chesson, M., Harris, E., & Ryan, G. (2017) · American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education · doi:10.5688/ajpe81584 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“If health care profession students rely on stereotypes to help direct interprofessional interactions in unfamiliar situations, inaccurate or negative expectations may develop.(22) Recognition and acknowledgement of professional stereotyping can enhance professional relationships.”
BackgroundBondarianzadeh, D., Yeatman, H., & Condon‐Paoloni, D. (2011) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2009.06.002 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“Kirkham et al. (2002) point out that stereotyping can be a protective strategy for midwives to cope with and prevent situations in which they may feel impoverished.”
BackgroundThe inverse care law in antenatal midwifery care
Kirkham, M., Stapleton, H., Curtis, P., & Thomas, G. (2002) · doi:10.12968/bjom.2002.10.8.10600 · Cited by 19
Self-citationWhat psychosocial well-being in the postnatal period means to midwives.
Gibb, S., & Hundley, V. (2007) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2006.07.005 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Emotion Work around Reproduction: Supportive or Constraining?
Kirkham, M. (2009) · doi:10.1007/978-1-137-08641-9_14 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citationKirkham, M. (2010) · doi:10.1007/978-1-137-04133-3_14 · Cited by 9
Self-citationThe measurement of stereotypes in the evaluation of Interprofessional Education
Hean, S. (2009) · doi:10.1007/978-1-137-08028-8_8 · Cited by 9
“In the health arena, specifically, the generalized and often accurate views practitioners hold of a particular patient group may guide them in an appropriate manner when facing an individual from this patient group for the first time (Kirkham et al., 2002; Hean et al., 2006a).”
BackgroundCommunication skills: revisiting the fundamentals
Timmins, F. (2007) · doi:10.12968/npre.2007.5.9.27408 · Cited by 8
Exploring the value of midwifery continuity of carer
Warren, C. (2003) · British Journal of Midwifery · doi:10.12968/bjom.2003.11.10sup.11752 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Ethnic minorities' access to antenatal screening
Rowe, R., & Garcia, J. (2005) · doi:10.12968/bjom.2005.13.2.17470 · Cited by 2
- Authors
- Kirkham, M., Stapleton, H., Curtis, P., & Thomas, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Glangwili General Hospital (GB)
- Venue
- British Journal of Midwifery
- Publisher
- Mark Allen Group
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 549-552
- ISSN
- 0969-4900 (ISSN-L)
- 2052-4307
- OpenAlex
- W1964880332
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Midwifery (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- stereotyping, defense mechanisms, midwives, informed choice, obstetric care, women's participation, social class, housing tenure, age, decision-making, patient choice
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