A reflection on masculinities and maternity

Midwives should provide family-centred care that extends to the partner, but evidence shows that feelings of exclusion, disempowerment and a perpetuation of unhelpful gender stereotypes are often experienced by partners. Despite this, there is limited research surrounding masculinities and maternity services. This reflection explores how engaging with a men's health charity challenged my perceptions on the role between masculinities and maternity services. Two analyses will be outlined, first exploring the reductive views of masculinities common in societal discourse, and second how maternity service provision interacts with these. This reflection interrogates approaches to practice through a lens that views toxic tropes of masculinities as products of societal conditions in order to explore the possibility of engaging with these in midwifery practice.