I'm told that my office staff dress up for Halloween. It's festive, it's fun.
I'm not dressing up. Here's why -- I don't look like a cardiologist. As a young woman, I look nothing like your stereotypical, gray-haired cardiolgist. I'm mistaken as the nurse, the physical therapist, the nutritionist, the social worker -- you name it. And not just by patients, but by health care workers as well.
Some patients have even told me that because my last name ends in "-man" that they assume I'm -- a man!
In a world of stereotypes and preconceived notions, I need all the credibility I can get. Hence no costume.
I'm not dressing up. Here's why -- I don't look like a cardiologist. As a young woman, I look nothing like your stereotypical, gray-haired cardiolgist. I'm mistaken as the nurse, the physical therapist, the nutritionist, the social worker -- you name it. And not just by patients, but by health care workers as well.
Some patients have even told me that because my last name ends in "-man" that they assume I'm -- a man!
In a world of stereotypes and preconceived notions, I need all the credibility I can get. Hence no costume.
Photo from paranormalworld.net
Perhaps you could (secretly) go as a strong, confident, female doctor!
ReplyDeleteyou don't "look" like a cardiologist? I hate stereotypes. I'm not going as anything for Halloween - my family always celebrates this holiday by spending time with family (especially since two family members have a birthday today), and watch horror movies :0)
ReplyDeleteI'm 38 and people still occasionally ask me what I'm majoring in in college, so I sympathize.
ReplyDeleteMaybe to make the point, though, you could dress up as:
DR.! Frankenstein
DR.! Strangelove
DR.! Zhivago
DR.! Suess
DR.! Who
Although, none of those are women. Huh.
Maybe what you really need is a lab coat with the following embroidered on the breast pocket:
(in BIG letters): CARDIOLOGIST
(in smaller letters): Vegan Doc, MD
Then you can dress that up with holiday buttons as appropriate. :)
Just a funny note about the opposite - when my son was very small - his first Pediatrician was female - then we moved to a larger city with a teaching hospital - and went to a practice with multiple Pediatricians - but the one assigned to him was also female - after several visits with Dr. Lily - she came in one day with a male intern - and introduced him to my son - who leaned over and whispered to me "look Mama a 'man doctor'" as if they were all supposed to be female - so it's all perspective and I don't think he will ever think that all doctors are or should be male...
ReplyDeleteI wish I read this sooner! I would have told you to go as a stereotypical cardiologist... make a point!
ReplyDeletemy uncle is a nurse and is constantly mistaken for anything but. elderly women are particularly fond of asking him how long he has been a "male nurse". his standard answer now is "since the operation".
Awww I HATE that..."Nurse! Comm-ere!"
ReplyDelete