has anyone thought that becoming a doc will make them into a stereotype

BU Medical Sciences
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ronaldo23 said:
liek the nerdy indian doc stereotype?
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Nope, I'm caucasian as they come. I do, however, tend to view most Indian/Asian people as "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family."

It's terrible, and borderline racist, I totally admit. It's just my knee-jerk reaction, to be very honest.
 
dunno how I feel about that...another brown doctor...hmm.
 
rogerwilco said:
Nope, I'm caucasian as they come. I do, however, tend to view most Indian/Asian people as "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family."

It'sterrible, and borderline racist, I totally admit. It's just my knee-jerk reaction, to be very honest.
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😡

you have no idea what you're talking about
 
I'll let my actions dictate my non-stereotypicity, even if I eventually end up looking like one of them "nerdy Indian doc pressured into medicine" types!

edit: yes, in fact, I did just invent a new word
 
I've got the whole skinny, korean nerd from CA thing going on...so I'll have to say yes.

But honestly, who cares?
 
rogerwilco said:
Hey, I'm not proud of it. I'm just being 100% honest (which has sort of been an unspoken-until-now New Years Resolution for me).
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Perhaps next year's resolution should be knowing WHEN to be honest 😀

To the OP: I don't like stereotypes, and I may or may not fit one, I don't really care. I have my reasons for going into medicine, and if someone chooses to judge that based on generalizations, then that's his/her problem. I'm sure I'll have more important things to worry about.
 
rogerwilco said:
Nope, I'm caucasian as they come. I do, however, tend to view most Indian/Asian people as "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family."

It's terrible, and borderline racist, I totally admit. It's just my knee-jerk reaction, to be very honest.
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Haha, some time ago I was really bent on combating stereotypes and presenting this whole "individualized motivation for medicine" thing for myself. Then I realized, oh well people are entitled to their thoughts anyway and after all, the stereotype didn't just appear out of thin air ...

... Although, what always gets to me is the fact that the family thing gets such bad press for asians and indians. as in, if someone is caucasian and their parents are doctors and that was their major influence in becoming a doc ... it wouldn't be so ... i dunno ... "bad"? or OK that they got pushed into med because of some "family tradition." it would be equally valid to frown upon someone's doctor dad pushing them into medicine, imo.

I think the best way of countering any of these stereotypes is to just say you're in it for the cash. Case closed
 
rogerwilco said:
Nope, I'm caucasian as they come. I do, however, tend to view most Indian/Asian people as "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family."

It's terrible, and borderline racist, I totally admit. It's just my knee-jerk reaction, to be very honest.
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One of my interviewers flat-out asked me what my parents thought of my decision to apply to medical school. I think he was fishing for any signs of stereotypical Chinese parenting. Fortunately for me, my parents gave up with that strategy when it backfired on my older sister.

As for the OP's original question, a stereotype IS self-fulfilling. Why bother resisting?
 
rogerwilco said:
Hey, I'm not proud of it. I'm just being 100% honest (which has sort of been an unspoken-until-now New Years Resolution for me).
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It's irritating because I as well as others here want to be doctors because they decided to do it, and were not forced by their family. You've disrespected me as well as others. I'm living proof against that stupid stereotype. You're not Indian so you wouldn't understand our family/culture/values, so stop trying. I thought you wouldn't give into stereotypes, clearly I was wrong.
 
Auron said:
😡

you have no idea what you're talking about
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See this is what I'm talking about. People just need to let things like this go, cause stereotypes are always gonna be there. As long as people don't spout it off in my face, they can believe whatever they please.

On the same token, I could really care less if people were motivated to go into med because of "overbearing family," or their physician parents, or they wanted to rock a white coat and stethoscope, or they wanted to make big bucks, or aliens appeared one night and encouraged them to do it. It doesn't need always need to be some pat, interview-style, PC reason. Who cares if they fit XYZ stereotype as long as they're capable and do what they need to do for the patients 👍
 
dth92 said:
See this is what I'm talking about. People just need to let things like this go, cause stereotypes are always gonna be there. As long as people don't spout it off in my face, they can believe whatever they please.

On the same token, I could really care less if people were motivated to go into med because of "overbearing family," or their physician parents, or they wanted to rock a white coat and stethoscope, or they wanted to make big bucks, or aliens appeared one night and encouraged them to do it. It doesn't need always need to be some pat, interview-style, PC reason. Who cares if they fit XYZ stereotype as long as they're capable and do what they need to do for the patients 👍
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Way to give thumbs up to your own comments. I was going to give you one, but I don't think I will any more.
 
Auron said:
It's irritating because I as well as others here want to be doctors because they decided to do it, and were not forced by their family. I'm living proof. You're not Indian so you wouldn't understand our family/culture/values. Stop trying. I thought you were above stereotypes, clearly I was wrong.
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I'm not trying to pretend I understand your culture. As I've stated, it's a knee-jerk response based on the stupid stuff that most caucasians are exposed to via the media. I'm just saying what others may be thinking (I know of a few other people who unfortunately feel the same way). I applaud your efforts to choose a career based on your own interests and desires.

No one is above stereotypes. We all fall prey to them at some point, in some capacity. It's unfortunate, but it's the truth.
 
I am Asian and I do want to be a doc, although my moms a doc she actually discourages me to be one cause of the time commitment and the long hours, but I just love medicine and I really can't see my self doing anything else. I don't think it's a family influence cause my mom doesnt bring medicine onto the dinner table.
 
Auron said:
It's irritating because I as well as others here want to be doctors because they decided to do it, and were not forced by their family. You've disrespected me as well as others. I'm living proof against that stupid stereotype. You're not Indian so you wouldn't understand our family/culture/values, so stop trying. I thought you wouldn't give into stereotypes, clearly I was wrong.
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Um. He never said that he was trying to understand Indian cultural pressures.

He called it as he sees it. As an asian, I'll be the first to admit that a lot of neurotic asian pre-meds really are under some type of pressure--explicit or not--to consider a career in medicine, or at least a professional career.

Do a lot of asians go into a different career? Sure. Do a lot of them choose a medical career on their own? Yeah. Does that mean the problem doesn't exist and people should pretend like they don't think about it? Uh no.
 
koko_eats said:
As for the OP's original question, a stereotype IS self-fulfilling. Why bother resisting?
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Rock on. See, someone gets it.

Man, I never post this much. I guess this thread just caught my fancy. Hopefully it will degenerate into flaming with people questioning asians/indians on their motivation for medicine and asians/indians trying to discount the parental influence 🙄
 
dth92 said:
Rock on. See, someone gets it.

Man, I never post this much. I guess this thread just caught my fancy. Hopefully it will degenerate into flaming with people questioning asians/indians on their motivation for medicine and asians/indians trying to discount the parental influence 🙄
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Hasn't it?
 
koko_eats said:
Way to give thumbs up to your own comments. I was going to give you one, but I don't think I will any more.
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oh thanks, i must have been in the process of complimenting your post when you caught that. maybe i could edit out the thumbs-up and then you could pretend it was never there hmmm.
 
I'm Desi (Pakistani) and I've never once felt familial pressure to become a doctor. Rather, it's always been the opposite: I've always felt undermined by my parents and cultural background when I say I want to pursue medicine. I hate being lumped into the "model minority" category, particularly because I know so many fellow Desis who do not fit into this stereotypical mold. Education IS not prioritized. We ARE not rich. We DON'T acclimatize ourself well into the new country. Even statistics do their part to hide the reality: yes, you have the well-off and respectable Sahibs in the suburban Long Island/Somerset County-type places banking in a high income, but by that same token, you will also have Desis living in shady neighborhoods, in Jersey City/NYC, who aren't as educated and successful. Not to be stereotypical, but every Desi person I've met is either part of the former category as a doctor or an engineer or some other respectable profession, or part of the latter category working as a cab driver or gas station owner. If that's not enough of a disparity, then I don't know what is.
 
TexanGirl said:
I'm Desi (Pakistani) and I've never once felt familial pressure to become a doctor. Rather, it's always been the opposite: I've always felt undermined by my parents and cultural background when I say I want to pursue medicine. I hate being lumped into the "model minority" category, particularly because I know so many fellow Desis who do not fit into this stereotypical mold. Education IS not prioritized. We ARE not rich. We DON'T acclimatize ourself well into the new country. Even statistics do their part to hide the reality: yes, you have the well-off and respectable Sahibs in the suburban Long Island/Somerset County-type places banking in a high income, but by that same token, you will also have Desis living in shady neighborhoods, in Jersey City/NYC, who aren't as educated and successful. Not to be stereotypical, but every Desi person I've met is either part of the former category as a doctor or an engineer or some other respectable profession, or part of the latter category working as a cab driver or gas station owner. If that's not enough of a disparity, then I don't know what is.
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i hope im not misinterpreting your post, but it seems to me that you have lumped desis into one of two stereotypes...which in my experience, is true the majority of the time
 
rogerwilco said:
Nope, I'm caucasian as they come. I do, however, tend to view most Indian/Asian people as "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family."

It's terrible, and borderline racist, I totally admit. It's just my knee-jerk reaction, to be very honest.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your honesty.

However, there's no need to constantly broadcast your thoughts, even if they are true. Imagine if someone asked you where your neighbor was so that they could kill them - no need to be honest here.

My worry is you might perpetuate the stereotype just by mentioning it. Luckily, this stereotype isn't particularly hurtful in comparison to some others.

You and I can both imagine some worser stereotypes that, had you posted them, would have really set this thread aflame.
 
AlexMorph said:
i hope im not misinterpreting your post, but it seems to me that you have lumped desis into one of two stereotypes...which in my experience, is true the majority of the time
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Oh, I know I was being stereotypical (which I hate), but I did it to illustrate the fact that the Desi community is a little more economically and culturally diverse than people give them credit for. Not everyone's desi parents grooms them for a career in medicine (mine hope I'll just quit and get married). Ugh, I don't really lump Desis into one of two stereotypes--trust me, we're just too diverse and too big of a population to do that. You have Muslim desis, Hindus desis, Sikh desis, Christian desis, affluent desis, poor desis, Punjabi desis, Tamil desis, Bengali desis, Gujrati desis, urban desis, suburban desis, village desis, then desis divided by caste lines as well! Get my drift?
 
Well, nothing like a good debate. What I'm actually a little curious about is rogerwilco's own background and path to medicine. I mean that in the most unassuming way possible, I know it sounds like there's a certain undertone to that statement. But I mean, hey, if he came from a family of ivy league-educated physicians or something, that would draw unwarranted stereotypes of a different sort with the same end result. Just saying.
 
Oh, you forgot male desis and female desis...probably the most prominent one...My elder cousin, female, just got married half way through her masters, and so she had to stop studying, even after the families knew that she had been offered a huge huge huge job when her degree was over...on the other hand most guy desis get to study to their hearts content before they HAVE to marry....For those who have seen it, anyone remember scenes from swades or veerzara ? or any other old indian movie?



TexanGirl said:
Oh, I know I was being stereotypical (which I hate), but I did it to illustrate the fact that the Desi community is a little more economically and culturally diverse than people give them credit for. Not everyone's desi parents grooms them for a career in medicine (mine hope I'll just quit and get married). Ugh, I don't really lump Desis into one of two stereotypes--trust me, we're just too diverse and too big of a population to do that. You have Muslim desis, Hindus desis, Sikh desis, Christian desis, affluent desis, poor desis, Punjabi desis, Tamil desis, Bengali desis, Gujrati desis, urban desis, suburban desis, village desis, then desis divided by caste lines as well! Get my drift?
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Well to be completely honest I think when I'm hanging out with my bros I very closely resemble the orthopaedic surgeon stereotype.. and that's an option that I'm tossing around in my head, sooooo...
 
smeagol said:
I appreciate your honesty.

However, there's no need to constantly broadcast your thoughts, even if they are true. Imagine if someone asked you where your neighbor was so that they could kill them - no need to be honest here.

My worry is you might perpetuate the stereotype just by mentioning it. Luckily, this stereotype isn't particularly hurtful in comparison to some others.

You and I can both imagine some worser stereotypes that, had you posted them, would have really set this thread aflame.
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Fair enough. Point well taken.
 
Unfortunately, i look like someone you would not want to meet in a dark alley so i dont fit the stereotype at all.
 
before i say this, i want you all to know i am asian also, so dont bother trying to call me racist.

you sensitive asians out there, you do realize that by b****ing about how other races dont understand us and they perpetuate the stereotype, you are just creating and perpetuating another stereotype: asians are too damn sensitive about stupid stuff. seriously, who cares. by being anal about it, it only provokes more.

there are always execeptions to all categorizing labels and if it makes you feel better, just tell yourself that you are an exception and go pat yourself on the head.

stop being such a little b**** because youre just creating another stereotype that makes me look bad as a fellow asian.

and just as a side note, the stereotype of asians going into medicine is slowly diminishing (at least from what i see). a majority of my asian friends have opted to go the business route or go into internatial relations. Most of our parents are not as overbearing as the generation above them and most are supportive of different career options.
 
rogerwilco said:
I'm not trying to pretend I understand your culture. As I've stated, it's a knee-jerk response based on the stupid stuff that most caucasians are exposed to via the media. I'm just saying what others may be thinking (I know of a few other people who unfortunately feel the same way). I applaud your efforts to choose a career based on your own interests and desires.

No one is above stereotypes. We all fall prey to them at some point, in some capacity. It's unfortunate, but it's the truth.
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So why not try and change your current way of thinking so you're not so prejudiced?
 
I used to be afraid that pursuing medicine would force me to abandon my other serious interests such as composing/performing music, living near my family and friends in Europe, and being the spontaneous, fun-loving, dirt-bike-riding, snowboarding-loving, social person that I naturally am.

Honestly I think medicine definitely will interfere with these interests... I have just come to the point where I understand my ambition enough to realize that being fulfilled and satisfied in my career is more important than *almost* anything else and so those other dreams just have to die away for a while until I'm in a position to reconsider them. And it may be that my "nightmare" of becoming a career-only oriented person with no life outside medicine comes true, but honestly I'm good at juggling things and I'll always have the arts and my friends to balance out my scientific interests, so I'm not too worried about fitting into any stereotype.
 
I don't see why the stereotype of going into medicine is bad. I'm Mississippian, and I'd pay $$ for a stereotype like that. Hmmm, a stereotype one could fall short of...
 
rds726 said:
before i say this, i want you all to know i am asian also, so dont bother trying to call me racist.

you sensitive asians out there, you do realize that by b****ing about how other races dont understand us and they perpetuate the stereotype, you are just creating and perpetuating another stereotype: asians are too damn sensitive about stupid stuff. seriously, who cares. by being anal about it, it only provokes more.

there are always execeptions to all categorizing labels and if it makes you feel better, just tell yourself that you are an exception and go pat yourself on the head.

stop being such a little b**** because youre just creating another stereotype that makes me look bad as a fellow asian.

and just as a side note, the stereotype of asians going into medicine is slowly diminishing (at least from what i see). a majority of my asian friends have opted to go the business route or go into internatial relations. Most of our parents are not as overbearing as the generation above them and most are supportive of different career options.
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👍👍
I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you 🙂
 
rds726 said:
you sensitive asians out there, you do realize that by b****ing about how other races dont understand us and they perpetuate the stereotype, you are just creating and perpetuating another stereotype: asians are too damn sensitive about stupid stuff. seriously, who cares. by being anal about it, it only provokes more.

there are always execeptions to all categorizing labels and if it makes you feel better, just tell yourself that you are an exception and go pat yourself on the head.

stop being such a little b**** because youre just creating another stereotype that makes me look bad as a fellow asian.
Click to expand...
👍👍 I agree wholeheartedly.




Could people please stop ragging on rogerwilco? There was absolutely nothing wrong with his statement; it was the truth, and there was nothing offensive about it.

I'm Indian by descent, and even I think of the "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family," stereotype every time I see an Indian/Asian doctor or premed.
 
GoldShadow said:
👍👍 I agree wholeheartedly.




Could people please stop ragging on rogerwilco? There was absolutely nothing wrong with his statement; it was the truth, and there was nothing offensive about it.

I'm Indian by descent, and even I think of the "oh brother, another person who was probably forced into medicine by their overbearing family," stereotype every time I see an Indian/Asian doctor or premed.
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Come on man that's ridiculous. I don't have a problem with rogerwilco stating the truth, however, I do find it disconcerting that he harbors those prejudiced feelings in the first place. I'd prefer if someone judged me after they've gotten to know me, rather than using what they've seen on tv, heard from a friend, etc... to form their opinions of me.
 
I think the problem (at least among most educated people) is not that stereotypes predominate (they don't) but that stereotypes persist.

Like rogerwilco said in his first post, it's a "knee-jerk" reaction, but I hope most of us look beyond that reaction. In other words, when I first see an (East) Asian student, I think of the usual 'math/science/videogame nerd' stereotype, but I know it's just that; a stereotype. I hold off on really judging people by preconceived notions.
Likewise, when I see an Indian student I think "premed or engineer because of family pressure" but I realize that it's only a stereotype; it's just as likely that this person does not fit the mold.
A black student evokes "sports and rap", but I know that it's just a stereotype, so while the thought pops into my head, I know that this person just as likely does not fit the stereotype.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's bad to judge someone based on a stereotype, but it's not necessarily bad to think of the stereotype and realize that it's just a stereotype; after all, stereotypes exist for a reason (a lot of people of a certain race usually fit it). The problem arises when someone legitimately believes that a stereotype accurately describes every person of a certain race/group.
 
GoldShadow said:
I think the problem (at least among most educated people) is not that stereotypes predominate (they don't) but that stereotypes persist.

Like rogerwilco said in his first post, it's a "knee-jerk" reaction, but I hope most of us look beyond that reaction. In other words, when I first see an (East) Asian student, I think of the usual 'math/science/videogame nerd' stereotype, but I know it's just that; a stereotype. I hold off on really judging people by preconceived notions.
Likewise, when I see an Indian student I think "premed or engineer because of family pressure" but I realize that it's only a stereotype; it's just as likely that this person does not fit the mold.
A black student evokes "sports and rap", but I know that it's just a stereotype, so while the thought pops into my head, I know that this person just as likely does not fit the stereotype.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's bad to judge someone based on a stereotype, but it's not necessarily bad to think of the stereotype and realize that it's just a stereotype; after all, stereotypes exist for a reason (a lot of people of a certain race usually fit it). The problem arises when someone legitimately believes that a stereotype accurately describes every person of a certain race/group.
Click to expand...


I agree completely, but i feel this is going to create some heat in this thread.

i dont think anyone can truthfully say that they do not automatically judge someone the moment they meet them based on what can be seen physically, at least for a split-second (and if you can be completely non-judgmental, more power to you). These impressions you get are heavily influenced by soceity, whether that be media, stereotypes, personal experiences, etc.
 
GoldShadow said:
I think the problem (at least among most educated people) is not that stereotypes predominate (they don't) but that stereotypes persist.

Like rogerwilco said in his first post, it's a "knee-jerk" reaction, but I hope most of us look beyond that reaction. In other words, when I first see an (East) Asian student, I think of the usual 'math/science/videogame nerd' stereotype, but I know it's just that; a stereotype. I hold off on really judging people by preconceived notions.
Likewise, when I see an Indian student I think "premed or engineer because of family pressure" but I realize that it's only a stereotype; it's just as likely that this person does not fit the mold.
A black student evokes "sports and rap", but I know that it's just a stereotype, so while the thought pops into my head, I know that this person just as likely does not fit the stereotype.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's bad to judge someone based on a stereotype, but it's not necessarily bad to think of the stereotype and realize that it's just a stereotype; after all, stereotypes exist for a reason (a lot of people of a certain race usually fit it). The problem arises when someone legitimately believes that a stereotype accurately describes every person of a certain race/group.
Click to expand...
Naah man I disagree. Stereotypes influence thought. Sure it's good to recognize the stereotype and then alter your views to account for it, but not all stereotypes are easily recognizable. And there are plenty of negative stereotypes that can be disrespectful and/or perpetuate racial dissolution.
 
Auron said:
It's irritating because I as well as others here want to be doctors because they decided to do it, and were not forced by their family. You've disrespected me as well as others. I'm living proof against that stupid stereotype. You're not Indian so you wouldn't understand our family/culture/values, so stop trying. I thought you wouldn't give into stereotypes, clearly I was wrong.
Click to expand...

I can understand where you are coming from, and the stereotype needs to dissipate. But I sincerely doubt that rogerwilco meant anything negative by it.
 
Everyone's a little bit racist... sometimes...
Doesn't mean we go around committing hate criiiimes
Look around and you will find
No one's really colorblind
That's a fact we all should faaace
Everyone makes judgements based on race!


Is there a singing emoticon?
 
LaMusicienne said:
Everyone's a little bit racist... sometimes...
Doesn't mean we go around committing hate criiiimes
Look around and you will find
No one's really colorblind
That's a fact we all should faaace
Everyone makes judgements based on race!
Click to expand...
So should we accept this and languish in our inequity, or should we strive to erase our racial bias?
 
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