I feel like whenever I talk how I normally talk and express my opinions around attendings, I get a lot of backlash despite believing my opinion is well in the realm of both mature and realistic. I often wonder if this is how women felt giving a feminine perspective however long ago when medicine was more male-dominated.
I feel like whenever I act like myself as a queer person, I’m dismissed at best and told not to say that at worst. I’m so sick of being judged by a cis-white male standard. I’m a caring person who always makes decisions based on what I feel to be my patient’s best interest and the current research. And my own perspective.
But I constantly feel dismissed unless I act masculine and give the most generic opinions. And I feel like my bosses tolerate queer nurses and patient but not residents.
I know I’m just a resident and a part of me wants to put my head down and just survive but another part of me says that being a “healer” as I think of as my profession has nothing to do with what current “professional” standards and that queer people can and should still be themselves without fear.
What should I do? Do I risk everything to try to make a change or wait until I’m out of residency and all the boomer-conservatives pass away?
I feel so alienated but I refuse to give up my career or my dream based on standards and beliefs that I think should have nothing to do with being a doctor.
Thanks,
A queer resident in the conservative Deep South
I feel like whenever I act like myself as a queer person, I’m dismissed at best and told not to say that at worst. I’m so sick of being judged by a cis-white male standard. I’m a caring person who always makes decisions based on what I feel to be my patient’s best interest and the current research. And my own perspective.
But I constantly feel dismissed unless I act masculine and give the most generic opinions. And I feel like my bosses tolerate queer nurses and patient but not residents.
I know I’m just a resident and a part of me wants to put my head down and just survive but another part of me says that being a “healer” as I think of as my profession has nothing to do with what current “professional” standards and that queer people can and should still be themselves without fear.
What should I do? Do I risk everything to try to make a change or wait until I’m out of residency and all the boomer-conservatives pass away?
I feel so alienated but I refuse to give up my career or my dream based on standards and beliefs that I think should have nothing to do with being a doctor.
Thanks,
A queer resident in the conservative Deep South