Communication Hierarchies in Humour: Gender Differences in the Obstetrical/Gynaecological Setting

Abstract

This article explores the meaning and use of humorous remarks between doctors and patients in the obstetrical/gynaecological setting. Some elements common to the behaviours analysed can be summarized as follows: humour is used to reinforce existing power relationships in several ways; humour serves different communicative functions: sometimes used to move interview/talk along, sometimes used as comfort, sometimes used to stop patients from rambling on; the women clients use different humour strategies, depending upon whether they are interacting with nurses, midwives or doctors; power relationships shift as gender and institutional roles intersect. The nurses and midwives have more power when the doctors are not there. First we focus on the meaning and effects of this research field on women; we then move on to the social meaning of humour and finally concentrate on two studies carried out in some maternity wards and family health clinics in Italy.