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

Thats not my experience.

Generally I do think it is true. Medical people, are people and have all sorts of unconscious bias ( not all, but some), judgements are made, assessments based on what you say, how you present, how you act etc.

So yes, I do think it can exist. I read something years ago about studies that showed that being well dressed etc influenced the level of care specialists gave you. I have made sure to dress well when seeing the specialists I have needed in the past for serious illnesses.

When I have a cold/flu thing and need some antibiotics etc, I am clean, but don't care as much, the impact of not being taken serious is less critical, so I am tired /sick and will not be as bothered to pull things together - clean is what I go for and that will do. But for serious matters, or mental health stuff, yep, I dress well and will take care in how I come across.

I just did a quick google now and there are quite a few studies supporting the theory of unconscious bias not only limited to how well you dress, but age ( elderly patients not listed to), women being taken less seriously, obese patients, race etc. all can affect your treatment. So if the appointment is critical I will dress appropriately and well.

If your HCP is genuinely a classist snob, no makeup and clothing is going to convince them you're higher up the social ladder than you really are.

OP I would ask yourself if this is maybe your own self esteem issues at work. Do you place doctors on a pedestal or are you intimidated by them and don't feel 'good enough'? Are you overly conscious of class generally, instead of just treating everyone as they come and expecting the same in return? I just can't imagine this being a consideration for anyone.

A tiara and a pony. With groom.

OP, my grandmother, while dying (as in, she was dead within a few hours) , dragged herself into her best nightdress and lipstick when her GP visited, because ‘you dress up for doctors’. She also kept her children short of food in childhood in order to be able to afford to buy them one ‘good’ outfit for church, complete with hat.

To this day, my mother cannot appear in public wearing an even slightly dirty item of clothing, including circumstances like slightly muddy trouser hems on the way back from a winter walk, because her ultimate terror is ‘not looking respectable’. And yes, she judges everyone else on the same grounds. Show her a convicted, self-confessed killer in a suit and neat haircut and she will sigh and say what a nice-looking boy ‘from a very good family ’.

Not for gp appointments but always for my oncology appointments. I don’t know but wearing a dress and make up makes me more confident even when I feel crap. And he is always dressed up so I don’t want to look scruffy. It’s only a £14 Primark dress but it looks nice a floaty and easy access if he needs to examine me. I have a couple.

I try and be clean and presentable but otherwise no I don't make any particular effort.

I once was feeling so tired and unwell at a nurse's appointment I didn't realise one pendulous tit was hanging out till I got home. Hanging out in the appointment I mean, not in the waiting room or owt.

Definitely have seen a difference between how I’m spoken to/ treated when eg in work/ dressed up clothes vs ‘whatever I could find’. Funnily enough by receptionists more than doctors. Same with pharmacy staff, a lot more respect when a bit more dressed up but then when I’m not dressed up I look like a messy 44 year old teenager iykwim😅

ps from middle class background in Ireland so have never had felt paranoid/ felt I needed to prove myself etc, it’s just something I notice!

I think it depends… as a social worker I have seen that particularly with some professionals presentation does make a difference in gaining their trust and confidence. But I think it’s more about class!

Ridiculous

The evidence would tell you the opposite.

I've been in hospital a lot. I've seen this so many times. Not all staff by any means so I fully believe some have never experienced/seen it. But trust me it happens.

There are studies that show that men are taken more seriously by doctors. Unfortunately, I agree that how you present yourself matters with drs more often than not.

I have visited the doctor in both looks - casual and professional. I don’t feel I have received worse care in the casual outfit.

It's definitely a class thing - but the "well dressed" presentation is only a small part. Donkeys years ago sociologist Basil Bernstein described elaborate and restricted language codes. Those using more elaborate forms of language- matching those of their drs. teachers solicitors etc - report receiving better service/outcomes than those with restricted language codes. Sadly it's still the case.

I genuinely thought it would be because you fancy your doctor 😂

I think doctors are definitely classist and sexist.

However I don't think they judge patients on clothing so much as accent, vocabulary, levels of intelligence and education. The more informed, articulate and confident you are, the better care you can expect.

I don't worry about clothing for appointments because across my lifetime I can't recall encountering any doctors who were dressed up or particularly stylish themselves. That's not intended as a judgement, I don't care what doctors wear because I'm consulting with them for their skills and knowledge, not their dress sense or presentation.

I think being clean and showered is important and also wearing clothes that can be quickly removed. Other than that they are too busy to care.

If you want to be taken more seriously I think I'd try:

1. being male
2. mentioning working for the NHS
3. being educated, articulate and confident

If dress as I normally do. I'm clean, my clothes are clean, my hair is brushed and whatever make up I normally wear. I don't wear things like joggers and hoodies, but if they are clean nothing wrong with that. Doctor couldn't care less.

Makeup and hair to go to the doc? WTAF? Glad I don't live in your milieu.

I can very happily assure you that I do my hair and makeup to go over the door on any given day, not just for doctors.

I don’t do this to go to the Dr, I wear something clean and comfortable that is easy to pull up the sleeves for blood tests etc. That said, I have experienced being treated differently generally (not by Dr) if I’m wearing scruffier clothes like a hoodie v smarter clothes.

Though, I do recall my one of son's almost fatal asthma attacks (blue/voided bowel and bladder/out for the count), phoning my mother wailing that he was dying and to get to the hospital toot sweet, she took the best part of an hour and turned up to A&E in full makeup and jewellery. I was in my PJs/Uggs with a coat over the top, (happened at 6.00 a.m.) the ambos had stayed with us, hovering in the background, worried sick. By the time she arrived, he was awake and even talking a little. One must dress up to view the corpse, apparently. Generational, I always assumed.

Generally in all aspects of life, the better you're dressed/put together then the better you're treated. Not always obviously, but most of the time that's how it is.

I was in hospital this week (last week now) and wore a navy cotton dress, lightweight dark coat, no make-up.

Looked a bit austere I guess. Don't think the doctor was particularly bothered by my appearance one way or the other, she was asking questions about the illness and was worried at one point I might be in pain. It was obvious I didn't understand about the illness but then my consultant doesn't either!

Your examples are at the extreme end. There is a big difference between dirty joggers, smelling of fags (although surely any smoker smells of fags?) and weed and dirt under their fingernails and me going along in my trackpants and sweatshirt (which is what I happen to be wearing at present, and if I had a GP appointment would turn up in those).

I have never felt judged by a doctor, or any other professional, in my whole life and I have never got "dressed up" to visit them.

Maybe it's a UK thing - in that case I'm pleased I don't live there!

Purely interested in your health and well being
I visited a doctor recently in my slippers and work pants.
When you are sick no one cares or feels like being so Shallow.
Your small minded to think it matters.
Do u have private insurance and specialists? Hahaaha