C.C 3.2

In the article "Spotlight: 'Aren't you a nurse?'" written by Linda Childers, Childers describes the gender stereotypes of female in the medical field, and the effects they have on women.


In the article Childer states, "Stereotypes aren't just annoying- they can also affect a [medical] students academic performance. In a recent University of British Columbia study published in the Oct. 20, 2006,  issue of Science, Women who are told that men were better equipped, genetically, to solve math problems performed worse on tests than women not exposed to this notion." This being said, it proves that stereotypes do influence people and their productivity. In this particular study, exposing women to certain stereotypes cause them to become overly confident and they don't try as hard on the "exam" and it hinders their scores. They don't try as hard because they don't think they have anything to prove. However, if stereotypes were to be disproved of women would work better.

In the article Childer also states, "Perhaps the biggest challenge for female medical students and residents is proving to their peers that they are capable of successfully balancing work and family. Unfortunately, women in  medicine say that often have to demonstrate proof that they are capable of this juggling act- one that for women in other professions receives little attention." However, trying to prove this stereotype often shields even themselves from the reality that they need help, and its ok, but trying to prove their capable hinders their abilities because they are spending so much time trying to perfectly balance things that are not meant to be perfectly in balance by one person.

In the article Childer also states, "While the Journal Academic Medicine notes that the number of female medical students has increased from 7.7 percent in 1964 to 48.5 percent in 2005, many women in medicine continue to face gender stereotypes and subtle discrimination."  Fighting what people say should define them, women stand up to the everyday stereotypes, and get the education they need to become things such as doctors, lawyers, and sheriffs, despite the fact that almost everyone around them are creating and supporting the stereotypes that these women are standing up to.

In conclusion we learn that women face many stereotypes in the medical field, yet there is still an astonishing percent of females becoming doctors, despite the discrimination.