To dress up for doctor’s appointments?

[PollencaCalling]

Really re: classism in medicine!

Unless desperately ill I never go to see a GP/consultant etc without making sure that I’m looking well put together. Of course I’m not talking formal attire - just nice, tidy outfit and good hair/makeup. My opinion is that this way things are taken more seriously, and from experience this has been the case. Spoke about it with a friend earlier who thinks I’m bonkers!

Although it shouldn’t be the case I do think that to some extent I am justified in thinking this. Some doctors certainly do still have a class bias and I have experienced it myself. Took DD to A&E a few years ago and got quite a nasty doctor who implied that she was making it up! Once she took her coat off and revealed a hoodie from her (quite MC grammar school) his opinion of her completely changed and he couldn’t have been more pleasant or helpful. It really bothered me at the time and has stuck with me since

On Child of Our Time^^ they did experiments when the children were about to start school about the best thing you could do for them to help them succeed and the very top one was dressing them nicely and brushing their hair etc as it's human nature to care more about people who are valued by others more and who value themselves.

Doctors look at buttholes and feet. Why would they care about your face?!

I think I look really rough without make up...I'm also a bit overweight so unless I'm dressed nicely and well groomed I look like waynetta slob.

Or they’ve read the evidence that says this is a known phenomenon and are sick of not being listened to by their doctors and desperate to do anything which might help.

I do too!

I’m a nurse. I’ve seen classism play out. I’ve had to call it out before. I’ve seen consultants document about people’s occupations and how they present themselves in ways that aren’t appropriate. I’ve also seen doctors be more friendly and chatty with patients they see ‘are like them’. I’ve never had to fight for a middle class presenting patient to have their concerns taken seriously. It’s all so so so wrong.

Everyone makes snap judgements about people within seconds of meeting them, it's hardwired, so its quite likely anyone you meet will subconsciously take you more/less seriously based on their initial judgement of you. For that reason I don't think you're being unreasonable. Of course it would be better if humans didn't do this but unconscious bias is very hard to avoid.

It shouldn't make any difference. I wish it didn't, especially now I'm doing well to even get to the surgery without washing, brushing & smoothing myself.

But I look at past medical notes ... "This personable lady; This charming patient; Well-presented despite considerable difficulties ..." and I think, yeah, it gets you more respect. I don't assume anything more nefarious than People Like Us syndrome; doctors are only human. But it makes me wary of becoming Not Like Us, iyswim.

My mum used to wear her good jewellery when going shopping for something expensive, even if she was just wearing jeans - she said that the shop assistants were more helpful if they could see evidence that you could afford what they were selling.

I know doctors should be different and I think probably at A&E they aren't judging (because if you are willing to go the 15 hour wait then you are obviously genuinely ill), but I do believe that GPs take you more seriously if you are well presented and look 'respectable'. It's human nature to judge and doctors aren't immune from that.
I think we still equate intelligence and importance (and therefore worthy of respect) with appearance. So a mum who looks like a professional or middle class, will still be seen as better equipped to judge when her child needs a dr than the scruffy mum.

It wouldn't remotely occur to me to do this. I'd be more likely to rely on my manner and words to make them take me seriously. But I guess I can do that because I happen to be MC, well-spoken, confident (and if necessary can use my teacher look and voice ). It's awful that people are not taken seriously because if superficial things. And because of being female, of course

this made me chuckle. I’m so feckless I can’t even pretend not to be 😂

I just tell the Dr I'm a solicitor. It works wonders.

Edit - I am actually a solicitor

YANBU

I don't wear smart clothes and look super scruffy but I am what used to be called well-spoken. I am always asked what my job is at any GP appointment I have. I always thought they were trying to establish whether I was there about an industrial injury but I asked around and most people are not asked this on every visit.

I am not asked this at hospital appointments, only the GP. I've moved a lot and it has happened at every GP since my early twenties.

I dont think you are ' desperately ill' if you can manage all that to visit the GP, do you?

Instinctively, I've usually upgraded my clothing from working rags to clean casual when attending medical and dental appointments as well as ensuring/timing my ablutions are at peak for close examinations and might even spray some of my precious perfume too.

I really had no idea that my instincts were acting/playing out for an actual reason not at all associated with my medical or dental needs. You live and learn.

As an aside, sometimes when I'm dressed at my scruffiest and about to do something filthy I give myself a spray of precious perfume just because.

I’ve found this too. When I took my DC to the GP I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously. DH took him and they were sent straight to the hospital for investigations. This has happened more than once, so DH takes the DC now when possible.

I also feel like GPs do judge appearance to some extent; I always try to make sure I look presentable before going.

You don't have to be feeling or looking desperately ill to see a doctor. You could have manners of things that you need to see a GP for...a dodgy looking mole, a lump, a rash, sore joints, ingrowing toenail...

I read years ago about a study that reported that middle class people get better treated or something along those lines so I always make an effort. Not that I really believe it makes any difference

It's a thing

By Dm was horrified when my DF went to the go in an old T-shirt

I make a bit of an effort if I'm going to see my consultant for a condition I've had since childhood. So not if poorly poorly but still going to an Nhs appointment

Here's a tip, if you need to go to A & E make sure you wear a tiara. You'll be fast-tracked to a cubicle straight away. They will sometimes boot out a poorly dressed individual, especially if it is thought they may be malingering.

Definitely. My experience of treatment completely changed once I went to an appointment from work/in what I'd worn for an important meeting - I've done it ever since.

I needed an urgent post c-section scan, and was pushed to the front of the queue. I was (understandably) a state in my nightie, unbrushed hair and crying (I was extremely unwell but desperate to go home).

The man performing the scan didn't attempt to hide his annoyance, until he found out I was a solicitor (as PP mentioned) and even in my traumatized state I marveled at the immediate change in his demeanor. He became polite, chatty and reassuring. Almost like he'd recategorised me in his head as a fellow professional, as opposed to hysterical woman. Infuriating.

I live by the advice my grandma always gave when attending doctors.
Have clean knickers and shower beforehand.
Other than that, I am quite happy to attend in leggings and a sweater and I have never had a problem where they have dismissed me.

Ex NHS clinical worker here. They'd be on a loser with me, I have never ever worn make up and I don't take a handbag because its less to manage in the consulting room. I don't "do" my hair. its either down or up in a clip. I don't own dress up clothes either. I agree with @Whatatodo79 appropriate clothes are whatever will make it easy to be examined if its needed and @StormingNorman makes a great point about covering complexion...its the same reason why people are asked not to wear acrylics or nail varnish when having hospital procedures. I do make sure that I am freshly showered and clean unless its an emergency. the only thing i do think is that seeing a doc, any doc can be a stressful experience and anything that makes you feel more comfortable and in control of the situation can only be a good thing.

I wouldn't say so. The OP has a point, in my experience. It depends on both the area and the doctor.

When I was working, I'd normally attend an appointment in work suits. Now I'm retired and - following some years as a carer and now a widow - I have reached the "can't be arsed" stage and have started attending appointments in my jeans.

It makes no difference with my GP and with reasonably youthful hospital doctors, but an older consultant treated me like an idiot when I saw him.

He told me the name of my condition and then: "Oh, you won't know what that means!" (because it was in Latin). You had to be there: I promise he was being patronising, not explaining. I drily commented that my degree wasn't in medicine, but that I had done some Latin at school.

He then asked what my job was. I explained that I was a teacher, but only do a bit of supply these days and he stopped treating me as if I were daft. (I can't say that he was much help, however. I was advised to avoid stairs and walking on slopes...In Scotland?)

I live in a predominantly working class area. I recall when I was a student seeing a GP because the Blood Transfusion Service had refused a donation from me: the on-the-spot test that they had administered had shown that I was anaemic. (I'm not surprised - 20 yrs later, I was finally diagnosed with endo.) They insisted that I make an appointment to see my GP.

I duly did as I had been told. A blood sample was sent off for testing. On the return visit, the GP dismissed me with "Well, you're anaemic for a man, but you're not anaemic for a woman from this area!"

The next time I saw him, I wore my uni scarf. His attitude was very different.

GPs aren’t interested in what you’re wearing, they’re interested in what you’re saying.