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combination, or purely a matter of fate? We tried to show this by placing
the roulette wheel to indicate fate next to the otters while the woman
remains predominately a lone figure. There is an assumption in much of
the reflective practice literature that an individual can challenge and
influence a system (Ghaye et al 2000). However as Bradbury-Jones et al
(2008) suggest empowerment takes on different forms in different
contexts. Therefore the reality of challenging a system is difficult. Does the
woman in the picture need to watch her back? Is the most empowering act
remaining silent and resistant?
As in Maria‘s story perhaps there is safety in numbers in a collective
approach to voicing dissatisfaction and asking for change. But what I find
interesting in both Maria‘s and Jon‘s stories was how the nurses were not
clear about what they were asking for and quickly retreated when their
complaints were taken seriously. It feels to me that in seizing their own
sense of agency and power they quickly became insecure when faced with
the response of the hierarchy. Perhaps the need for approval for their
actions was so great that if their actions were challenged or disapproved of
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