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So I had a question about whether any of you felt like the ultra fancy clothing that seems to predominate among medical students and residents can be a barrier to therapeutic alliance.
At least at my school (a lowly state school), 200 dollar shoes, 50 dollar pants and shirts, and 30 dollar ties seem to predominate. These kind of cost outlays represent things that a lot of people can't begin to afford, let alone would be comfortable in.
When most of your patients don't even own a single pair of pants or a shirt as nice as the ones you wear day in and day out, could that foster a sense that you couldn't possibly relate to them?
Or in the case of working with teenagers or young adults (as I want to), could it have the effect of making you seem like 'the man'?
While I'm not much of a cultural anthropologist, I do know that throughout history clothing has been one of the things used to differentiate between the classes.
Just curious what yall think.
At least at my school (a lowly state school), 200 dollar shoes, 50 dollar pants and shirts, and 30 dollar ties seem to predominate. These kind of cost outlays represent things that a lot of people can't begin to afford, let alone would be comfortable in.
When most of your patients don't even own a single pair of pants or a shirt as nice as the ones you wear day in and day out, could that foster a sense that you couldn't possibly relate to them?
Or in the case of working with teenagers or young adults (as I want to), could it have the effect of making you seem like 'the man'?
While I'm not much of a cultural anthropologist, I do know that throughout history clothing has been one of the things used to differentiate between the classes.
Just curious what yall think.