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Women in Medicine

Jill

The New York Times has an interesting video up about increasing numbers of med students going into more lifestyle-friendly fields like dermatology. It’s made even more interesting by the woman featured in it, who, in addition to being my college room mate’s older sister, has some good insights into how the male-dominated medical profession has pushed top female students (and male students who put their families first) down certain paths. Check it out, if only because it shows Meena’s two daughters, who are the cutest things ever.

6 thoughts on Women in Medicine

  1. That is definitely true, even in the UK. Talking to a lot of med students and young female doctors here, I do see a lot of preference for more flexible areas such as general practice, and dermatology. In a way, it saddens me because I would like to see all fields being more ‘family friendly’, and bright young women able to combine a successful career in any field with kids if they wish. But if the way to having the life you want is taking certain options, it may be the best choice you have at the time.

    Part of it is the fact that many women are thiking about being the primary carer because of society any how they’ve been brought up, but I think we as women have also been socialised to be less ambitious on average. By which I mean that men (assuming more affluent backgrounds here) are more socialised to aim for the big bucks, and put in the huge hours because they are socialiesd to belive somebody will take care of all the domestic stuff for them and raise their kids. Kind of like the leaky pipleline and women academics, I think it really is true that women are often socialised to be more cautious of the really, really time consuming jobs. Cos if they’re not supposed to be looking for that ideal man, then they’re supposed to be cleaning his house or raising his kids. I think that smart, successful men are less socialised to care about having a life, too. It’s actually quite damaging, I should imagine.

    I can’t see any way to stop this discrimination by stealth, save for overhauling the way certain fileds work to make them more manageable. I can’t fault many young women (and men) for wanting to have a better quality of life by hafing mroe flexible hours and more free time -It’s precisely what I also want out of life, though I don’t have to make that choice just yet, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. Whilst I understand in part why I feel that way, the need to worry about how to combine kids with a career (and part of it IS based in patriarchical reasons), part of it is because I’m me, and I want to have time in life to do the things that make me happy.

    Dr. Singh is also kickass! We need lots of doctors like her.

  2. You know, I have two girlfriends in med school and they both said that to me. I kind of shrugged it off at first, but after awhile I started noticing that a lot of recent med student grads are actually pursuing fields that don’t involve a crazy work schedule or 24/7 availability. I only know one woman who isn’t considering dermatology or something ridiculous like podiatry. I’m glad that women are advancing in the medical field, but do they really have to stick to the “lifestyle friendly” options? It seems like they still believe they have to balance both a family and career on their own, without any help from their significant other. Rubbish, I say.

  3. So did your college roommate’s sister and husband get into the same program like they wanted?

  4. Sorry, I don’t buy that women who go into derm or radiology do so because they’re forced to do so to be able to have a family. In general, people (male and female) go in to both fields because the hours are great and the money is even better which makes them comparatively cushy specialties.

  5. as a female medical student, i know I want to go into a field that doesn’t demand those crazy hours, not because i am domesticated, but because I see that people like ob-gyns and surgeons, etc, work so hard and are totally abused by the medical system, and not payed what you deserve (contrary to what most people think of doctors). If you do chose those careers, you are abused, if you chose not to, you are “not ambitious” because of social conditioning. get over it people.

  6. it’s really easy to sit around and theorize and look down on people. try getting your bachelors, taking mcats, going medical school,taking 8 hour long board exams, residency (long long hours with little pay), then holding other lives in your hands and THEN make a decision. it’s not like i’m taking it easy during these 12 years of education and raising a family and cooking over a hot stove. I love medicine, and that’s why i’ve made so many sacrifices. also I agree with ol cranky 100%.

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