Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Medicine - a lower status career?

80 replies

ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 09:32

Just read the "states schools eclipse Eton in A-level rankings" thread in the secondary section. A couple of posters mentioned that medicine was viewed as second-rate career (paraphrasing, as I can't remember the exact terms used) by those in private schools.
I was a bit Hmm but curious whether there has been a shift in perception. Interested to hear views!

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 07/07/2017 09:34

Huh?!? Surely not.

Ontopofthesunset · 07/07/2017 09:38

Medicine is still very highly regarded from what I know, but it's not necessarily the subject of choice for those motivated primarily by high earnings, who see banking as the natural direction of travel. Medicine is also incredibly hard work - years of studying and long hours once you start work, with exams continuing for years. I think it's really got to be a vocation rather than just an aspirational career.

garud · 07/07/2017 09:38

Fairly inevitable as it is becoming more female dominated. It's what happens. Women don't choose low-status work, the work that women do becomes low-status.

Michaelahpurple · 07/07/2017 16:32

Totally agree with Garud. Law is going the same way. V depressing

Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 17:56

I actually think it might be better for medicine to have a lower status, as it's the wrong reason to choose a career that involves putting other people first.

Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 18:02

That's probably not the way to attract motivated people to a profession where the main driving force is self motivation

OP posts:
Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 18:08

plus work ethic to put in a lot of your own time (and money).
It's not working out well for teaching, nursing or midwifery. That's what concerns me about the statement for medicine.

OP posts:
ReinettePompadour · 07/07/2017 18:14

Maybe medicine is seen as a bit of 'poking and prodding of sick contagious people' by those who go to Eton etc and that keeping your hands clean and away from sticky, gooey contagious people with diseases by fiddling about with stocks and shares and the banking systems is seen as good clean professional fun and respectable (Grin) perhaps Blush

Dentistlakes · 07/07/2017 18:15

It's or something I have ever heard. Personally I think of it as one of the highest rated careers. I would rate medicine over law doe example and certainly higher than banking.

Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 18:36

Depends how you rate a career - a banker or a lawyer will earn more - much more...how else are we rating career - job satisfaction? I'm sure saving a life is up there but then that's not what a doctor does every day. Landing £5million contract would rate quite highly on job satisfaction.
I think being a doctor is hard, dirty work and you better make damn sure you are in it for the right reasons...not the prestige, they are not all brain surgeons!

Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 20:02

Not sure how I would rate a career, it's a difficult think for me to define, but definitely not on landing a £5m contract. I also don't think medicine is a 'dirty' job but clearly, if you hate the site of blood then it's not a wise career choice. May be I am in the minority on both counts.
Definitely, bankers earn far far more. In law, it depends on the type of law you practice e.g I believe family law/child protection doesn't pay well.

OP posts:
Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 20:08

...they are not all brain surgeons!

Isn't that one of the attractions? There are so many different branches in medicine that you can find your own niche, whether you love seeing patients (or not), getting your hands 'dirty', using gadgets etc etc

OP posts:
Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 20:14

I know lots of doctors - went to Uni with them and lots of it is very boring, shit, gruelling, boring work. Some love it and some have left it, but the casual conversations we've had have never left me with a feeling that it's something I'd ever encourage my dcs to do.

Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 20:16

I seriously hate the fact that it is highly prestigious - it means the profession has it's fair share of dickheads who are full of their own self importance, I've met a few and they do the profession and their patients no favours.

Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 20:21

Anyway, I was quite surprised by the shift in attitude but I guess it is a reflection of what is now valued in society - number of followers on social media, fame, money etc. A bit of a shame really.

OP posts:
WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 07/07/2017 20:25

There's a big difference between "private schools" in general and the super-elite Eton (and maybe Harrow, Westminster etc).
Most parents at good to middling private schools would be perfectly happy with a child who got a hotly contested place to read Medicine. But in terms of the highest ambitions banking and corporate law offer higher financial rewards and if you're really ambitious you might think that the corridors of power offer more chance to change the world for the better.

The thing about a medical degree is that once you've got a place and as long as you're prepared to work like a dog, it's a relatively low risk strategy. But Etonians don't need low risk strategy.

user1497480444 · 07/07/2017 20:25

Who cares? really? anyone who chooses their career because of perceived status is an utter twat!

But, no, I don't think it has a low status. ( teacher here). Of course there is the usual detraction of any highly selective course, triggered by fairly transparent jealously in most cases.

Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 20:27

I don't agree that "it's a shame" - we will hopefully get rid of the kids who are doing it because they think it will give them some high status job and instead get the kids who genuinely want to bloody well help and serve people!

Babymamamama · 07/07/2017 20:30

Not sure there are many GPs who hail from Eton, Harrow etc. I can imagine they'd think it's a bit beneath them and bit too much like hard work. Much easier to work in investments or whatever.

Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 20:49

There's clearly varying definitions of "status" on this thread. I meant more as a valued or respected profession rather than being elite in some way. Of course, it's hard work and of course they will moan about their work - most people do! Bankers work very long hours, lawyers have periods of intense work when on a case etc.

I know lots of doctors, too, and they do feel passionately about their work. Yes, definitely, there are "dickheads" but if you know of one then you will of know others - bird of feather etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 20:53

There's a big difference between "private schools" in general and the super-elite Eton (and maybe Harrow, Westminster

Yes, I agree - I know little of these types of schools but my understanding is that they are more geared to the classics, English etc and, therefore, breed politicians and that ilk. Also one of the main advantage of these schools is the Old Boys Network.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 07/07/2017 20:55

I meant more as a valued or respected profession

This is what I was thinking of. And I'd consider it virtually the highest status profession out there. Confused Higher than banking or finance, and certainly higher than law (am a lawyer myself).

Crumbs1 · 07/07/2017 20:57

Does t help that junior doctors are treated so badly. Doesn't help that ambulance chaser law firms have created a litigious culture.

Blanketdog · 07/07/2017 20:58

There's no recruitment crisis in medicine is there? Student should chose medicine for reasons other that status. Has the job changed? No!
My GP friend hates the google generation because she has to up her game - they challenge her every decision and they should - it's their life! Although I love her as a friend she is my nightmare GP!

Original poster
ridinghighinapril · 07/07/2017 21:00

There's no recruitment crisis in medicine is there? Has the job changed

Yes and yed

OP posts: