Public policy--power--professionalism

This paper is based on two academic papers written for a Bachelor of Nursing program. The first part of the paper consists of an analysis of public policy in the area of Maternity Services in Australia, and more particularly, in Victoria. The analysis follows the work of Richard Simeon, a Canadian public policy analyst, who has drawn strands of both economic and social analysis together. His work asserts that socio economic factors lead to an environment in which power is held by particular groups in society. These powerful groups then have a greater input into the development of values and ideology for that society, that then effect institutions involved in the policy making process. Analysis shows that the re-emergence of Midwifery and the imminent changes in Maternity Services have occurred due to the increasing power of women in society at a time when economic constraints have forced governments to look at ways of rationalising health care. The second part of the paper identifies the traditional characteristics of profession and critically appraises these from a feminist perspective. Discussion includes the concepts of medical dominance, power, the power of caring and existential advocacy. An argument is presented that profession as traditionally portrayed is not necessary for midwives, will not solve the problem of medical dominance, will alienate consumers and will ultimately lead to disunity. Such disunity would cause fragmentation of the powerbase that has led to changes thus far.