Race matters
Tackling racism is a challenge of many layers and complexities – conscious, unconscious, implicit bias. As part of our Race Matters programme, we are working to be a positive force for global majority midwives and maternity support workers and the women they care for, as we actively seek to eliminate racial slights, microaggression and make the RCM our RCM; an inclusive membership organisation for all midwives and maternity support workers.
While we make steps to dismantle systematic racism within the midwifery profession we must also attempt to find answers to the often raised but as yet unresolved question of why Black women in the UK are five times more likely to die during childbirth in comparison to white women.
‘prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.’
RCM commitment plan
We have formulated the following five-point plan as a first step to ensuring inclusivity and diversity:
This commitment to our global majority members is phase one of an ongoing coordinated plan of continuous action to work collaboratively to make a difference. Download the RCM commitments poster for display in your branches and noticeboards and understand how the we intend to challenge ourselves to do better when it comes to race equality and discrimination issues within maternity services.
RCM mentorship platform
Launched by the RCM in collaboration with the Turning the Tide Oversight Group to support global majority midwives and MSWs in their career development. The mentoring programme brings together experienced NHS professionals from inside and outside maternity services, and from different leadership and management positions, as mentors.
