Saturday, September 15, 2007

Sexism In The Workplace

Although women comprise nearly 50% of current graduating classes of medical students, doctors are still, by and large, a male population. While more men are now being attracted to medical transcription as a profession, 98% of medical transcriptionists are women. As a result, it is quite common to see traditional sexual roles being played out in the workplace when doctors expect to be pampered by women whom they perceive to be in "clerical" or "submissive" roles.
Some physicians begin dictating by saying "Good morning, ladies."

As a male medical transcriptionist, I was less than thrilled to hear a doctor crooning "You're once, twice, three times a lady and I love you," before he began each piece of dictation.

I soon learned that the women who worked on that hospital's account also regarded this doctor's warbling (which he may have thought to be flirtatious or in good spirits) as extremely rude, offensive, and unprofessional.

The sexual politics of the workplace have changed dramatically in 25 years. Do not make gender assumptions about people and/or their job descriptions.



Next: Nasty Little Secrets

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