06 Let’s Talk About It: Midwives leading change in dismantling Bullying and Racism in Practice

Speaker:- Bupe Mwamba

Facilitator:- Grace Mweni

Abstract:- Bullying and racism in midwifery are widespread, systemic problems that harm midwives, the women, neonates and families they care for. Racism operates at individual, organisational and structural levels, influencing who gets hired and promoted, who is disciplined and whose concerns are believed or dismissed. Behaviours include rudeness, mocking, scapegoating, unfair blame, intimidation and deliberate isolation, often embedded in hierarchies and toxic workplace cultures. They harm midwives, undermine team safety and perpetuate inequities in maternity care and midwives themselves are now leading the change. The Problem Black, Brown, migrant and Indigenous midwives disproportionately experience discrimination, exclusion and pressure to prove their competence. Bullying through rudeness, unfair treatment, scapegoating and isolation drives burnout and attrition, worsening workforce shortages. When midwives fear speaking up, communication breaks down and safety suffers. Racism operates at multiple levels: in hiring, promotion, discipline, whose concerns are believed and how women from racialised communities are treated.
Midwives Leading Change Midwives are naming these issues explicitly, rejecting euphemisms like incivility. They are creating psychologically safe spaces like debriefs, schwartz rounds, anti-racism forums where experiences can be shared without fear. They are building alliances across racial and generational lines, recognising that all midwives deserve respect and safety.

What Change Requires
Accountability: Leaders must acknowledge racism and bullying, not dismiss them.  Structural change: Fair rostering, transparent promotion, reporting systems that are believed.
Education: Anti-racism training that goes beyond awareness to action.
Courage: Speaking up, supporting colleagues, challenging normalised harm are what is needed to address this vice.

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Recording TBA