Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Participant document
OBSTACLES TO COMMUNICATION
1. Ordering
Telling the woman to do something, without explanation or alternatives.
Examples:
"I don’t care what other people say. You have to …........ "
"Listen to me!"
Possible feelings generated by these responses:
• Fear
• Resentment, anger
• Sense that my feelings and needs are not important
2. Threatening, warning
Telling the woman the negative consequences that will happen if she acts a certain
way
Examples:
"If you do that, you'll be sorry."
Possible feelings generated by these responses:
• Fear
• Resentment
3. Advising, giving solutions, moralizing
Telling the woman how to solve her problem.
Examples:
"If I were you, I would . . . . . ."
"You shouldn't act like that"
"You ought to . . . . . ."
Possible feelings generated by these responses:
• Resistance, defensiveness
• Guilt
• Feeling of inferiority
4. Judging, criticizing, disagreeing, blaming
Making a negative judgment or evaluation of the woman.
Examples:
"You're wrong about that! I couldn't disagree with you more."
"You aren't even making an effort."
"You didn't understand anything of what I said."
Possible feelings generated by these responses:
• Sense of inferiority
• Defensiveness
5. Labeling, stereotyping
Putting the woman into a category to shame her.
Examples:
226
RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 14: Interpersonal Communication