Gender Issues in Gynecology Essay Example

There is no denying that gender plays a big role in medicine. The first medical school was opened in 1765 and it was 80 years later that the first woman was admitted to medical school. Even though, the ratio of men to women practicing medicine is not close, about one third of the doctors are women and it might not be far when women will outnumber men. There has been an increase in women physicians in every specialty, the fact remains that women prefer non-surgical specialties like internal medicine, pediatrics and radiology. However, one specialty that has majority of women is Obstetrics and Gynecology. About 74 percent of OB/GYN physicians are female and the number is increasing.
The demands of the population reflect the greater women OB/GYN physicians. A study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that about 47% of people surveyed preferred a female gynecologist, 37% had no preference and 15% wanted a male gynecologist. Many people look past the gender for a knowledgeable doctor rather than someone who understands their feeling. Many prefer female gynecologists because they think the doctor would be able to empathize as they go through the same bodily functions whereas men would not. Some prefer male gynecologists because they think men would have an objective perspective on the issue and would not get emotional. Male doctors consider small issues seriously and provide proper care while a female doctor might trivialize the issue as they might have experienced the same thing.
Religion also plays a very important role in medicine. A person with certain faith might refuse to undergo something as it would contradict his/her beliefs. Staunch Jews, Muslims, Christians and Hindus could find it inappropriate to receive care from a male doctor. Some would not appreciate their partner getting too close to another person and hence they would look for a female doctor.
Many male medical students are afraid to pursue a career in OB/GYN because