"Barbie" = Gynecologist?

[MsAmerica]

Online Search Interest in Gynecologists After the Release of the Film Barbie
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821491

Barbie movie “may have spurred interest in gynecology”
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/barbie-movie-may-have-spurred-interest-in-gynecology-study-finds/

When Barbie learned what a gynecologist was, so did many other people, according to new study
https://www.wral.com/story/when-barbie-learned-what-a-gynecologist-was-so-did-many-other-people-according-to-new-study/21540933/

I was reading this lurkily thinking I was on the feminism board, then realised it’s the film one! I have just been reading about the history of gynaecology (after googling it! I did know what it was (although I have only been referred to one once) but didn’t know it covered mammograms), and it’s quite a grim read.

Another N American here, Canada... what I find troubling and deeply anti-feminist is having to get a GP referral to see a gynaecologist. Contrary to a pp who tut tutted American attitudes that faulty female genitals needing checking I would prefer direct access to doctors for women's health. I think if would go a long way to reduce various cancers and assist women with reproductive health needs and concerns. 🧐

in the US, a family practice doctor (like a GP -- for historical terms GP isn't used in the USA) can do gynaecology, but not all do. OB/GYNs are defined as "primary care" and can be seen directly. But in the USA, a midwife or nurse-practitioner might also do well-woman care. I don't think the USA is the only place that does it this way. Same as how the USA defines paediatrics and internal medicine as primary care, so you can see them directly instead of a family doctor. (Or they can take on specialist roles in hospitals, often after further training)

(There are legitimate safety reasons why OCPs containing estrogen are not available over the counter. The annual visit being tied to the pill was to get you to come in but the over the counter issue was separate.)

I get my eyes checked by an optometrist, not an ophthalmologist. There are specialist conditions they can't handle of course but the optometrist does my glasses, glaucoma check, and my diabetes check. (In either case, insurance won't pay for the glasses part of the exam.)

I agree that it was a sly way of saying that Barbie was now a woman physically in all senses.

Except that she had the doctor barbie being played by a man, so perhaps not

Which organs and how?

Nurses look at the cervix as part of the smear test.

It's called a bimanual exam. They feel your uterus and ovaries.

cervical screening guidelines have changed in the USA and now rely heavily on whether or not you are HPV+. If you're HPV- they don't do the Pap.

Yes, but that didn't bother me. After all, a man can play the role of a fake representation of a woman, sans female reproductive organs, which is what a Barbie doll is; he can perform conventional femininity. However, he cannot become a real woman, as Robbie's Barbie does at the end. A nice subversive message, when you think about it.

Plus, there are "trans" Barbies in the woke world of Mattel (which was mocked in the film, e.g., "I'm the nephew of a woman aunt. Some of my best friends are Jewish.", while having no actual women in the board room): creations.mattel.com/en-gb/products/barbie-tribute-collection-laverne-cox-doll-hcb99?srsltid=AfmBOorpknupCjpkvR6TNLQpYcEAvA_Vt6tle1npMfICTIsEYUUTugF5

Greta's got it covered. 😉

Interesting point!!

I’ve not seen this yet, must fix that

Omigod, @McSilkson, the idea of 600,000 on a waiting list to see a gynecologist is horrifying to me. All the more so because, judging by what I'm reading in this thread, it implies there is likely some urgency.

Of course, the situation in the U.S. is nothing to brag about. I've been wondering lately if there are any countries with the "best" solution, that combines access to affordable good care. Health care "access" is a hot topic in the U.S., but I don't think most people even realize there are different aspects to "access" - the existence of doctors, the proximity, the affordability, the waiting time, etc.

Do you remember that episode in Friends when Rachel flirts with a gynaecologist, but then he says something to effect that because he spends all day looking at women's vaginas, he's had enough of it by the time he gets home...which put paid to the flirting.

The American system isn't perfect by a long shot, but it would be nice if every doctor's practice had one GP who specialises in women's health. I know that won't happen anytime soon in Ireland because there's such a shortage of GPs.

Well, @McSilkson , it just seems odd to me that any woman over the age of 20 wouldn't at least know what a gynecologist is.

I've never been to a nephrologist, neurologist, cardiologist or oncologist, but I know what they are!

(I have been to a gynecologist, pulmonologist, ophthalmologist, ENT, dermatologist, allergist, rheumatologist, and ENT. Does that make me odd?)

Having typed all that, those words are all starting to look funny to me, so please forgive any typos.

In the UK people don't generally see specialists unless they need to. Here you wouldn't see a gynaecologist unless you were having a gynae issue beyond the limitations of your GP. It doesn't take a gynaecologist to do a breast check or smear test.

Didn't we already cover this over a month ago...? 🤔

Well, many people are very ignorant about many things, so... It is what it is.

Even I had to look up "nephrologist", and I have scored very highly on the vocabulary component of formal psychometric/IQ testing.

I wouldn't say it makes you "odd", but I'd say it makes you more typical of an American than an average Brit, and more educated/versed in medical terminology than a lot of people! Also, perhaps rather unlucky with your health, or at least having rather a lot of concerns relating to your health.

Here in the Uk, as others have said, we go to our GP first for most things. But in our neighbourhood there’s a local sexual health and family planning clinic which you can access directly.