Apparently women can't be doctors...

"I would think a doctor in trainers and colour co-ordinated stethoscope, whether pink, blue or bright green would look distinctly unprofessional." Maybe. But OpusProSerenus was specifically citing pink as being unprofessional. She didn't say coloured.

If you let it irritate you that much you've got a lot of crap heading your way.

I know it's annoying. I know exactly how you feel - I qualified in 1998, I've been a consultant for 3 years, and yet the other day a female colleague (new to the hospital so didn't know me but that's no excuse, I'd introduced myself) dismissed my concerns about a patient with "yes nurse, but we'll wait for the anaesthetist to make that decision when he gets here - where is he?"

I've been mistaken for a nurse, a secretary, a midwife, an orderly - never once a doctor. I wear scrubs (navy), a stethoscope and a large ID badge with doctor on it.

I honestly sympathise, but you have to smile, let it wash over you and find something else to sink your anger into.

Do you look very young, OP?

I would think a doctor in trainers and colour co-ordinated stethoscope, whether pink, blue or bright green would look distinctly unprofessional.

I don't work in a medical setting, however it used to be that in meetings (due to the nature of my job I am ususally the only woman and probably the youngest person there) I was assumed to be the secretary, and to take the minutes.

I think it was becausae I was young, now I am older it happens a lot less, as I have gained stature, and probably act in a more imperious manner. I can't imagine anyone assuming I was a secretary now.

I agree with Bonsoir to some respect. can you not behave in a more arrogance surgeon like manner, barging through swing doors and scattering ward clerks out of your way?

I am sorry though, it is bloody frustrating and gets on your nerves.

This amazes me. My Mum is a doctor and the last time she had this problem she was 25 - and looked about 18. That was 40 years ago.

Some of the teachers at my DD's school talk down to the SAHMs as if they had absolutely no clue about education and were unable to grasp simple concepts. Very much the "leave it in our capable hands and don't bother your head with it, you non-working dimwit". I do find the part-time teachers (who are bringing up their children most of the week) a lot more open-minded as to the likely level of education and professional experience of SAHMs than are the FT teachers.

I find it best to send a few clear verbal messages up front to avoid confusion.

I don't see why wearing a pink stethoscope and pink trainers constitutes "unprofessional". Why should that be treated differently to someone with a blue stethoscope and trainers? Because sexism exists.

Oh and "whiny" and "simpering" are also extremely sexist remarks.

I work with two other people in the same non clinical role across a large Health Board and we all take taxis fairly frequently to other parts of the Board.

Taxi drivers always assume that:

• I am a doctor
• Colleague A is a nurse
• Colleague B is a medical secretary

No idea why. We have mused about clothing differences, accent differences, body language differences. We're all female though so it's nothing to do with gender.

I can see how this would be extremely frustrating for you op. Particularly as it's not like you'll be the first female doctor they'll see. People are odd. And annoying.

Could you wear a stethoscope round your neck? I'm only being half facetious, people are very influenced by what they see on telly. I do hear you, though. I'm a journalist and work late. When I explain to people I work shifts I'm invariably asked if I'm a nurse.

Dozer, although I agree with you I can kind of see what Bonsoir is suggesting. I have worked with younger women in my profession who are enraged that this happens to them but don't project a professional image. The classic case was the young female doctor on the BBC series recently who whined about not being taken seriously but, when it suited her, wanted to do the girly bit of simpering about her pink stethoscope and wearing pink trainers with scrubs.

I am not a medic but am in another senior, non-uniformed clinical role and whilst I have had the odd bit of this have not had too much and do wonder if it was because we always dressed in suits/smart seperates which reinforced the role to the public. My younger colleagues dress much more casually; although still smart they would probably not wear a jacket for example.

I'm not suggesting this is right, or a total solution to general ignorance, but I think what Bonsoir is suggesting is that it may be easier to make a small change in oneself than in the thinking of the public.

That is not what I said. I am trying to help the OP find a practical solution, given that she is unable (however dispiriting that might be) to change people's assumptions so she might try changing herself (a bit).

Yes, you need to practice a bit more arrogance superiority, springboksaplenty!

You know the joke:

Q: What's the difference between God and a doctor?

A: God doesn't think he's a doctor!

(And I'm not trying to insult you, as a doctor, by the way )

Being serious, I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing this, and I'm astounded, frankly.

That's really bad, sorry OP.

bonsoir, so it's OP's demeanour and not other people's outdated, sexist assumptions? Nice.

Is there something that you could do to make your demeanour more assertive? A lot of the way people treat us is how we project ourselves.

For me it was when I'd be in a bay and someone called 'nurse' and expected me to attend to them. I'd look around in search of the nurse. I must say I've got used to it now, it's usually just propping up in bed a bit better, not a biggie (although still needs hand washing before, hand washing after, sorting out the bedside table etc). If it's something more time consuming or specialised I ask them to use their bell for a nurse.

What country are you in?

And what century?