C.C 3.1

In the article "Women in Medicine: Gender, mentors and role models" by Katherine Ellington, Ellington informs the reader of the negative and positive stereotypes of being a female doctor.

In the article Ellington states, "Recent research published by doctor Dr. Borges and others indicates that women physicians choose their careers because of the perceived quality of life, earning potential, and organizational reward. They are less likely than men to identify role models for professional- personal balance." Women choose to be doctors because they are trying to prove themselves in a "mans world". Until recently most people did not think that a women had what it takes to become a doctor, and that the only reason they were interested was because of the money, and the appreciation  from others.

Elligton also states, "Relationships and family matter, try to avoid undermining your anchors to move ahead, you may find short-term success and long-term misery with the loss of your family and friends any a more demanding job." Here we see the negative stereotype that women with children cant focus right and that having a family makes their job harder, this may be true, but I believe that this is not just true with women in the medical field, but with women in any profession, however; it is not as big of an issue with other professions than it is in the medical field. Women who have families may have a harder time focusing on the task at hand because of worrying for their family.

While both of those stereotypes are some what on the negative side Elligton also tells of the positive side, she states, "On a historical note Dr. Virginia Apgar's story is endearing as she was set on becoming a surgeon, but gender discrimination led her to a career in anesthesiology after training she went on to head a new division of anesthesiology where she developed the Apgar score." That is proof that even though women face some discrimination in the medical field if they work hard you can overcome the negativity thrown at them by others.

This article reminds me of the time I was discriminated against at work when I wanted to work in the kitchen instead of being a Car-Hop. I remember when I told my boss and the "Kitchen Boys" started saying things like why don't you stay up front where you belong, and you can't be a grill worker you're a girl.. hearing comments like that almost made me change my mind but i decided to go after what i wanted anyways. After the first two weeks of learning the things in the kitchen the boys finally got used to me being there and within the next few weeks they even started to tell me how good I was doing! This is proof that if you set your heart to something you can over come any negativity someone may throw at you.

Should women become doctors? I think that if thats what they really want to do then no matter how much negativity is thrown there way.