Relations of power and oppression within the delivery room: nursing narratives.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze, from the perspective of decolonial feminism, the power and oppression relations experienced by nurses in the delivery room in a hospital in Mexico. METHOD: Qualitative study in which 15 nurses selected by theoretical sampling were interviewed. The interviews were fully transcribed and subsequently analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The emerging central category was "Inter- and intragender power/oppression relations" and psychological and symbolic violence were the most frequent types. Gender was confirmed as the most important structural determinant of oppression, cutting across bodies and professional identities. The conditions contributing to intragender conflict are age, expertise, and specialization. Three coping resources were documented: defenselessness, complicity and resistance. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to denaturalize the forms of power/oppression sustained by gender inequalities, but also to discuss other conditions that determine power/oppression relations between women and colleagues. Eradicating intra-gender and intergender violence is necessary to access safe working environments that promote creativity for the exercise of care.

Relations of power and oppression within the delivery room: nursing narratives / Relaciones de poder y opresión dentro de la sala de parto: narrativas de enfermería / Relaciones de poder y opresión dentro de la sala de parto: narrativas de enfermería

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze, from the perspective of decolonial feminism, the power and oppression relations experienced by nurses in the delivery room in a hospital in Mexico. Method: Qualitative study in which 15 nurses selected by theoretical sampling were interviewed. The interviews were fully transcribed and subsequently analyzed using content analysis. Results: The emerging central category was "Inter- and intragender power/oppression relations" and psychological and symbolic violence were the most frequent types. Gender was confirmed as the most important structural determinant of oppression, cutting across bodies and professional identities. The conditions contributing to intragender conflict are age, expertise, and specialization. Three coping resources were documented: defenselessness, complicity and resistance. Conclusion: It is necessary to denaturalize the forms of power/oppression sustained by gender inequalities, but also to discuss other conditions that determine power/oppression relations between women and colleagues. Eradicating intra-gender and intergender violence is necessary to access safe working environments that promote creativity for the exercise of care.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as relações de poder e opressão vivenciadas por enfermeiras na sala de parto de um hospital no México sob a perspectiva do feminismo decolonial. Método: Estudo qualitativo no qual foram entrevistadas 15 enfermeiras selecionadas por amostragem teórica. As entrevistas transcritas na íntegra foram posteriormente submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Resultados: A categoria central emergente foi "Relações inter e intragênero de poder/opressão" e as formas psicológica e simbólica de violência foram as mais frequentes. O gênero foi o mais importante determinante estrutural da opressão, atravessando corpos e identidades profissionais. As condições que contribuem para o conflito intragênero são idade, perícia habilidade e especialização. Três recursos de enfrentamento foram documentados: vulnerabilidade, cumplicidade e resistência. Conclusão: É necessário desnaturalizar as formas de poder/opressão sustentadas pelas desigualdades de gênero e discutir outras condições que determinam as relações de poder/opressão entre mulheres e colegas. Erradicar a violência intragênero e intergênero é necessário para acessar ambientes de trabalho seguros que promovam a criatividade para o exercício do cuidado.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar desde la perspectiva del feminismo descolonial, las relaciones de poder y opresión que viven enfermeras dentro de la sala de parto en un hospital de México. Método: Estudio cualitativo en el que se entrevistó a 15 enfermeras seleccionadas por muestreo teórico. Las entrevistas transcritas en totalidad fueron sometidas posteriormente a análisis de contenido. Resultados: La categoría central emergente fue "Relaciones de poder/opresión inter e intragénericas" y las formas más frecuentes de violencia fueron psicológicas y simbólicas. El género se confirmó como el condicionante estructural más importante de la opresión, atravesando los cuerpos y las identidades profesionales. Las condiciones que contribuyen al conflicto intragénero son la edad, la expertis y la especialización. Se documentaron tres recursos para el afrontamiento: indefensión, complicidad y resistencia. Conclusión: Es necesario desnaturalizar las formas de poder/opresión sustentadas en las desigualdades de género, pero también discutir otras condiciones que determinan relaciones de poder/opresión entre mujeres y colegas. Erradicar las violencias intragenéricas e integénericas es necesario para acceder a entornos laborales seguros y que potencien la creatividad para ejercer el cuidado.

Experiences Influencing upon the Significance of Obstetric Care in Mexican Nurses.

OBJECTIVES: This work sought to learn which and how are the professional experiences that influence upon significance processes of obstetric care in nurses working in toco-surgery rooms. METHODS: This was a qualitative study with grounded theory approach. Individual interviews were conducted with 16 nurses who work in two public hospitals in a border city in northern Mexico. Data analysis was performed according to that proposed by Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: Four categories were identified that explain the relationship established among the professional experiences and the significance processes of obstetric care; these are: Dilution of borders and demand for interculturality, Modification in the scale of values associated to care, Institutional and public policy crises, and Violence endured within the work setting. Obstetric care is signified within an imaginary that recognizes the existence of a globalized context, which requests problematizing the worldview not of the "other" but of "many others", and not merely from those receiving care, but also from other professionals who participate in institutional care. CONCLUSIONS: Significance processes analyzed show how the socio-historical situation and current policy require new attitudinal skills and knowledge for nursing to participate efficiently in obstetric care.