Conclusion
In writing this article, I reflect on my identity as an Indian male. The experience of childbirth and midwife are removed from my direct gender-based experience. I recall my mum telling me about my birth with my aunt as her loving and capable midwife. So as a recipient of the love and care of a midwife, I am a testament to this gift in the world. As a male coach, this metaphor empowers and liberates me to see more deeply how my gender has privileged me and as a Black person also to know the pain of racism in my lifetime in South Africa.
Conscious coaching for social change comes out of consciousness which leads to empowerment and accountability. Coaching in matters of race, gender, power, and patriarchy out of places of guilt, shame and insecurity will not be in the service of our coachees and the work of social justice and transformative coaching. Pain lasts for the night, and joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). This is a poem I wrote a few years ago that captures this experience:
Conflicting Birth
It was a hard birth So much of pushing
Pushing
Screaming Pain
Delightful joy arrives Messy, noisy Gasping for breath
Conflict gave birth once more To a beautiful baby, they called Consciousness
END
July 2020
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References
- https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coaching_teachers/2014/07/what_is_a_coachs_role.htm
- 2. Suzanna Prout (2013).The six roles of an Executive Coach (2013) https://www.xenonex.co.uk/executive-coaching-blog/the-six-roles-of-an-executive-coach- leeds-leadership-development/
- 3 http://adrielbooker.com/motherheart-of-god-midwife/
- 4 https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/metaphor-for-teaching-the- teacher-as-midwife/
- https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-egyptian-midwives
