title: Men in Midwifery: A National Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Midwifery in the United States suffers from a lack of diversity. More than 91% of midwives are white, and more than 98% are women. Little research has explored the experiences of midwives who are men or transgender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Invitation to an Internet survey was sent to the membership of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Thirty-one participants who identified as men or transgender completed the survey, which included quantitative and open-ended questions about the impact of gender on education and practice. Data analysis of qualitative responses used qualitative description methodology to identify common themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes described participating men's experiences of education and practice of midwifery. Challenges included feeling singled out as different and being excluded. Supportive factors came from the social support of family, friends, colleagues, and patients, as well as from taking pride in one's work as a midwife. Midwives who identify as transgender described the challenges of others' confusion about their gender, having to hide their true gender identity, and struggling with the resulting loneliness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey highlights the challenges faced by midwives who are men or transgender in education and practice. Midwifery values of respect and acceptance for all women and families need to be applied internally to all members of the profession. This will support increased diversity and openness in midwifery.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kantrowitz-Gordon
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adriane Ellis
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McFarlane
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men; D008880:Midwifery; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: gender; men; midwifery; transgender; workforce diversity