Posted on 09/04/2023 11:56:46 AM PDT by nickcarraway
— It takes more effort than you think
"Become the doctor your parents always wanted you to marry," said the T-shirt I purchased from the women-in-medicine interest group during my first year of medical school.
I remember feeling like I should buy that T-shirt (and I did), yet it was also something I was never quite comfortable wearing. It was a "women's cut" (how appropriate), which meant it fit snugly across the chest and sat high on the waist -- not something I could exercise in, and also not exactly something I would want to put on for a night on the town. Frankly, I couldn't totally connect with what was being sold. Maybe I wanted to be a feminist without being identified as a feminist? I had already made it into med school, got what I wanted, right? Surely this was feminism. Done. Nothing more to talk about.
Fast forward to my third year of medical school. My first clinical rotation was on the inpatient psychiatry ward. I put on my new starched white coat, filled my pockets with clinical guides, and donned my stethoscope.
During my first week, I was sent to interview a 60-year-old male who was in the throes of a manic bipolar episode. The interview occurred in his room on the unit. His thoughts were disorganized, and his speech was fast. About halfway through the admission, he leaned in, grabbed my breasts, and said, "These are breasts just like my wife used to have." He then pushed me down on the hospital bed -- at which point the resident doctor came into the room and pulled him off of me.
The resident and I finished the interview. After we left the room, he asked if I was OK. I said I was fine. I was embarrassed. This was not the kind of attention I wanted as a medical student. I'd never heard of patients assaulting doctors or healthcare workers, so for the longest time, I didn't think that was what had actually happened.
I used to say my problem in life was that feminism worked; I got what I wanted, and it just turned out that it was too much for me. I left home and traveled by myself to remote places in Africa, Asia, and Central America. I challenged myself to camp alone, change a car tire, and use a chainsaw. I biked across the country. I ran a marathon. I was always proud of my independence.
More recently, I am starting to appreciate that feminism might not be about saying yes to more things but learning how to say no to the right things. Feminism didn't work because I got to have a full-time professional job while rearing small children -- no, instead, I would say our current system leaves highly motivated women open to new forms of abuse. Women are put into impossible situations, and then berated for not providing excellence.
I want a T-shirt that says, "I won't do this anymore." I want to say no. If you are a professional colleague or a patient -- no, you can't touch my back or my leg. No, I can't be in two places at one time. No, I can't work and sleep and clean my house at the same time. No, I can't accept the gender-based pay and workload disparities that the electronic health record is meticulously documenting. No, I can't take care of all of you without taking time to take care of myself.
I don't know what happened to that T-shirt I got in med school, but the truth of it is after three babies and all of the scones, donuts, and packages of hospital-grade graham crackers I have eaten in the middle of the night to stay awake -- it wouldn't fit me anyway.
Jacqueline Redmer, MD, MPH is a family physician.
Complain, complain, complain.
Feminism came along and told women: "You can have that deal too". Well, it's not necessarily a good deal. But, if you are going to work (and expect to rise up) then prepare to work to hard, miss birthdays and graduations. If you are not the sort of person who is comfortable with that, then choose to be a traditional wife and stay home and care for the domestic side. Most likely, you will be happier. It's a pretty good deal.
The worst thing ever said to women was: "You can have it all." That is a lie. You have to choose.
It’s the same in law school. You have to be careful not to get overwhelmed. It’s the same being a military officer. You have to keep the men off you. Be deliberate. Marry someone who is helpful, not a taker.
That’s all leftists do.
Wonder why.
Women lied to themselves that mens’ jobs and careers were mysterious, sexy, glamorous, and *fun*.
They lobbied to get preferentially admitted over better-qualified men.
Now they are complaining that the careers aren’t as fulfilling as they’d told themselves: and this is all men’s fault.
Women want baked ice.
The sad part is she took a slot at medical school. She had the intelligence, but not the mental toughness to be a doctor. But hay, somebody achieved their DEI goals.
“— no, instead, I would say our current system leaves highly motivated women open to new forms of abuse. Women are put into impossible situations, and then berated for not providing excellence.“
In order for her to think this she must believe being a guy is generally a cakewalk. Women have a real grass is greener problem, big time. Are they ever happy? Do they ever just stfu and get on with it?
I was an Allopath (M.D.) for 35 years after ‘83. Seen it all happen. My former colleagues have fairly shit the bed and she’s a great example of part of the Charlie Foxtrot these people have made of the profession I loved. To Hell with them, where they belong.
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