Gender inequality and oppression is a pervasive feature of human cultures and societies across the world and this is reflected in women's reproductive health with unacceptably high maternal mortality rates in low-income countries and excessive rates of intervention in childbirth in high-income countries. Midwifery, a profession whose raison d'etre is to be 'with women' with an explicit focus on maximising their reproductive health, has been slow to engage with a gendered analysis of these effects. There has also been a reluctance to utilise a feminist lens in addressing midwifery policy, practice and research. In this paper, we argue for change so that feminist values and gender equality become central to all midwifery endeavours.