Male Midwives in France

Abstract

Of 19,208 midwives polled in France in 2010, 349 were men. Based on interviews from a selected group of male midwives and midwifery students, as well as data from a recent study of the midwife profession in France, this study shows that the masculinity brought to this profession by male practitioners can be qualified as "respective masculinity." This theoretical perspective permits a broader consideration of the existing models that explain male presence in non-traditional professions. These models describe their presence as either a power struggle, a means by which to be promoted, or even as a possible questioning of male identity. Male midwives assert their masculinity by seeking autonomy in their work. They are able to work around the obstacle of showing empathy to female patients, typically considered a gendered predisposition. The case of male midwives shows the dynamics of masculinization when taking into account socio-professional contexts.