WIBU to quote Sheryl Sandberg and tell the female med students to "lean in" when they were all furiously staring at their notebooks when the doctor asked for a volunteer?

[Nacknick]

In hospital at the moment, bit of a frequent flyer and often get asked if the med students can examine me as I have some classic symptoms related to my condition which it's useful for them to experience.

Just had five of them in with a doctor teaching them how to do the examination. He then asked for a volunteer to examine me and as usual all the women started intently writing in their notebooks to avoid having to step forward.

Enough, I thought! And picked the one at the end of the line and suggested she go first. Which she did, and did a perfectly good job - although was obviously very nervous.

To be fair I don't think any of them got the Sheryl Sandberg reference, but WIBU? I feel I did a small thing today that might make them more willing to push themselves forward in the future.

YAnbu
They’re there for an education - volunteering as a patient gives you the right to speak too! Own it I say.

Perhaps they have literally started as students this week though?

3rd years but yes I don't think they've seen many patients before.

But I see it every time, confident vocal male students getting the hands-on experience and the women holding back.

Good for you!

YANBU and I think speaking up is a great idea.

I just want them to realise that nothing can hold them back. All of the consultants in my specialist team are women (great learning moment for my son when I explained that the lady was the doctor and the man was the nurse!) so they have fantastic role models already.