Wow, you're pretty bitter, doughboy. I know I won't be able to change someone's mind who already thinks that us "girls are second best" anyway and who probably will not listen to anyone who says otherwise, but I just want clarify a couple of things that you may have misunderstood.
Originally posted by doughboy:
•Maybe that physician who commented on your necklace was trying to talk about something other than "business." Don't you think some people get sick and tired of always talking about medicine. Wouldn't you like to go to a function where you can just talk about things outside of medicine?•
Yes, in a regular social situation that *might* have been considered a benign change of conversation (although most people I know do not go that far off topic), but this wasn't a typical social gathering. This was a dinner to discuss medicine, the department, and the work that people have been doing in the department. In addition, there were a couple of male surgery residents who were there for the conversation and commented to me later (without me prompting or saying anything to them) how inappropriate they felt the chair had acted. So I know it wasn't just me. And again, if the attending would have done the same introduction for a student who was male the chair would not have commented on how handsome the student looked tonight, or what great shoes he was wearing -- the chair would have asked a couple of questions about his work, and would have paid attention to what he had done, not how he looked.
•Back to the female thing...If I had connections or ways to climb the ladder easier than other people, I'd take the chance right away. You're saying its a bad thing? Being female and having it easier at times is not good? Give me a break. You do what you have to do and if you're happy with the outcome then great. Why would you have to prove anything to anyone? As long as you can do the job who cares.•
Perhaps you misunderstood my comments. When I said that once in a while a woman might get preferential treatment in certain fields, I did not mean in admissions or promotions. That's a completely different ball game, and one where it's often harder for a woman to play in certain fields.
I meant that once in a very great while a female might get treated a little bit better (as far as daily life), but it's not a good thing, because often times it's accompanied by a sexist remark, or it's made very clear that she is getting such treatment because she's a woman. For example, a female student on a surgery rotation gets to go home early one night. The reason? Because the senior resident tells her that she "needs her beauty sleep". Personally, I'd rather stay late than get told that.
And oftentimes this "preferential treatment" is not because women get more respect -- it's actually the opposite. The very few people who do this are often the same people who do not consider women to be "full-fledged physicians" -- they might give women this treatment because they don't think the woman can handle their work otherwise, or they think women are too sensitive, or who knows for what other reason. So during those very few instances of preferential treatment, it most certainly does not help one's career.
So, no, I don't consider it an advantage to get treated in that way. Again, that's why I'm going into a field that does not put so much daily emphasis on someone's gender, and values people for what they accomplish instead.
