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Original poster

Am I the only Women who doesn't like to see a Women Doctor?

110 replies

MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 21:44

I have been thinking about this for some time. I have often read that women like to see women doctors and of course for some this is tied in with religion and culture, for others maybe a history of abuse or a reasonable expectation that only a women would really understand the inner workings of women, whether it be gynea or even emotional/psychological problems.

However I have to date always had problems with women doctors.

I have come to the conclusion that some women who lack power, authority or autonomy under male domination seek to impose authority over other women. From my experience this happens when there is a perceived weakness such as illness.

I wondered if women really do empower themselves by oppressing other women because they feel so helpless themselves?

OP posts:
Iburntthecakes · 14/10/2012 23:29

Ummofumbridge I think the fact there are so many male ob/gynaes is that surgery in general has more male consultants than female. Even though there are more women than men in medicine now, senior hospital jobs are still male dominated.

Iburntthecakes · 14/10/2012 23:21

I think there may be something in what you're saying op although I don't think its as much about going into medicine wanting to oppress other women as female doctors subconsciously fitting into a culture that is still very patriarchal. I dont think female doctors are any worse than their male counterparts though and of course you'll get good and bad male and female doctors.

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 23:20

It is just one example and to be honest I have always worked with other women and when I worked for an employer all of my managers were women. I always found this a very supportive environment but it was social work so I think in general we were all more enlightened than perhaps other sectors. However it was always male managers who sought me out for promotion. I have never been offered promotion by any female line manager.

I use the example of female doctors because it is the only experience I have had where I have actually felt very disadvantaged due to the fact that I feel ill, I feel vulnerable, in fact perhaps the only time I have ever felt vulnerable is in illness and childbirth.

OP posts:
flippinada · 14/10/2012 23:05

There are many opportunities for women to be in a position of power over other women. Teachers, any kind of managerial role...

Why are you singling out female doctors?

flippinada · 14/10/2012 23:01

I've been posting and/or lurking here for donkeys.

I understand the identifying/colluding with your oppressor theory.

Your theory sounds very peculiar and reads more like baseless prejudice against female doctors than anything else.

HappyHalloweenMotherFucker · 14/10/2012 22:58

I see your point with the handmaiden theory, but do truly believe the medical profession, whilst still very hierarchical is constrained by professionalism

Apart from the bad apples of both genders, of course

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 22:53

No, I am trying to explore why some oppressed groups seek to oppress others and does gender oppression in some cases produce a phenomena where some within the oppressed group actually seek to align themselves with their oppressors. Heard of handmaidens? we see something similar with

sex positives championing porn or bleating on about how men feel.

We live in a complex social system which is hierarchical. Some women have power over other women. They have greater social prestige and earning power, education and opportunity. In what way does this effect relationships in terms of power between women not just over women?

OP posts:
Anniegetyourgun · 14/10/2012 22:52

Erm, the only actual example you've given so far is of a receptionist who happens to work at a doctor's surgery. That's not exactly the same as a female doctor. Actually it's not even a little bit the same, unless a female doctor at the practice instructed the receptionist to prioritise male patients (which is slightly unlikely, I would have thought).

Ummofumbridge · 14/10/2012 22:51

I prefer a female doctor for female problems and examinations, however if none are available then I've had male doctors but for some reason I don't feel quite so comfortable.
I am probably completely off here but I always wonder what would motivate a man to go into obs & gynae. Im sure the majority are completely legitimately interested in women's bits but there are so many other options open to them...
I'll probably get flamed but it's a genuine query.

YoullLaughAboutItOneDay · 14/10/2012 22:50

Oh. I clicked on this thinking 'me', but I totally misunderstood what you were going to say. Lots of my friends actively request a female doctor, even for quite 'non personal' things. I don't give a stuff either way really. I thought you meant 'am I the only one who doesn't mind'.

VolumeOfACone · 14/10/2012 22:47

To be frank it's quite a bizarre theory.

I don't care whether my doctor is a man or a woman. And I don't care, whether they're looking at my chin or my nipple.
You get good and bad in every profession, male or female, it hasn't made a difference in my experience.

ConsiderCasey · 14/10/2012 22:46

What a weird OP. Yes, women doctors are mini-Hitlers. Is that the response you want?

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 22:44

I certainly do not dislike women. Regular posters on FWR boards would I am sure know that to be the case.

"The 'disempowered relishing power over others' theory"

When you consider children who have hurt or in the very rare cases murdered or tortured other children, the perpetrators have in most cases been subject themselves to abuse.

OP posts:
flippinada · 14/10/2012 22:38

I think you would have to actively dislike and mistrust women as a group to come out with a theory like this.

YouMakeMeWannaLaLa · 14/10/2012 22:35

Maybe Mini , but I only mention it because it doesn't fit in with my other experiences. And would midwives be in a different category what with them being overwhelmingly predominantly female? Not sure.

The 'disempowered relishing power over others' theory does make a lot of sense when applied to other circumstances though (the bullied becoming bullies) so maybe there's something in it even if it's just a small percentage doing it subconsciously.

Difficult to say, especially when there are also those that counteract the theory by reporting that they prefer females hcps.

flippinada · 14/10/2012 22:33

Yes, some groups identify with their oppressors.

What has any of that got to do specifically with doctors?

And let's say it does, for whatever specious reason, apply to doctors, why does it apply only to female doctors and not male doctors?

WidowWadman · 14/10/2012 22:32

I really never gave the slightest fuck about my HCP's sex or gender, and why should I?

Trills · 14/10/2012 22:30

I have come to the conclusion that some women who lack power, authority or autonomy under male domination seek to impose authority over other women. From my experience this happens when there is a perceived weakness such as illness.

I have never experienced this.

Are you sure it's not you? Maybe you have issues with other women being "authority figures", and showing weakness (e.g. illness) in front of them?

PrideOfChanur · 14/10/2012 22:30

I've seen a variety of doctors of both sexes,and I've never felt a woman doctor was trying to impose authority on me.They've all been ok and most of them have been lovely.To be fair most of the men have been fine as well.

Mini,what problems have you had with women doctors??

expatinscotland · 14/10/2012 22:29

I don't really care what the doctor's gender is.

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 22:25

I had quite a sadistic midwife once who hurt me quite badly and kept grinning while I was crying and telling me it's just what women have to go through that is exactly the sort of experience.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 14/10/2012 22:21

ReallyTired I must be weird.

I agree with foodUnit about men blagging. Male doctors are often overly confident....maybe that might make some people actually feel more confident in their ability. I don't really subscribe to that myself. I don't see men as being better doctors.

I'm sure female doctors who have undergone years of training, who have an excellent education and earn a good salary actually feel very confident in their ability to be a doctor. Would this however make any difference what so ever to their personal lives? Do women who earn more not do the lions share of childcare, domestic stuff, not get sexual harassment off of men, are they immune to rape and domestic violence? In some way do all women feel either in awe, in fear or in some way disempowered by their relationships with men (as a class not primarily as individuals)

I'll give you an example, I ring for appointment I am told 1st of December my father rings fives minutes later and he can have Monday. Same women, same surgery, same booking criteria. Why? Ok that is not the actual doctor but again it is a women in a position to grant something to someone else, she can act with some autonomy and she grants greater privilege to a male? I believe it is because many women whether they admit it or not have been socialised to accept male authority over them, men come first, where does that leave them in relation to how they feel about or how they treat other women?

I can't remember where I read it but years ago when reading about the holocaust I read about the cruelty of the Ukrainians and other prisoners towards the Jews. many were worse than the Germans. Some even volunteered. Why? the theory put forward is that people who are disempowered or in fear seek to have some power over others.

OP posts:
YouMakeMeWannaLaLa · 14/10/2012 22:21

Wow, interesting theory. I've had an assortment of good and bad doctors but can't see any correlation between gender and quality of experience.

I had quite a sadistic midwife once who hurt me quite badly and kept grinning while I was crying and telling me it's just what women have to go through. Not quite sure if that fits the theory, though, I think she was just a rogue wrong'un.

procrastinor · 14/10/2012 22:00

No that is absolutely the reason why I went into medicine. And all of my friends. There's a society you can join in med school. Chock to the rafters with us otherwise week women lording it over the sickies.

flippinada · 14/10/2012 21:57

Actually, if you were minded to "empower (yourself) by oppressing other women", I'm sure there are much easier ways of doing it than becoming a doctor.