Some people from work have brought up some of the problems that women bring to medicine. Like, for example, how on average we work less than our male counterparts. That we want time off. That we leave our partners to deal with it. And how this lack of man-hours (or should we say, women-hours) is going to adversely affect medicine in the future.
Its true, I don't want to work 80 hours a week for the rest of my life. Our predecessors were q2. Q2! I don't think many people (men included) still want that.
They complain that the balance we desire comes at a huge cost, to our patients and our partners. I am not quite sure what to say about this. I can't say that I will never burden my partners.
Being balanced makes me a happy person. Being a happy person makes me a good doctor - not the type that is going to quit seeing patients to find some non-clinical work. Hopefully if I can stay balanced, I will continue to love medicine for decades the way I do now.
One particular person argued with me that you can be a good dad working 80 hours a week. I think this is particularly difficult. Funny how people are always asking, "how can you be a good mom, and be a doctor," but they never wonder about dads who are doctors.
This is just food for thought. Wish I had had a decent retort, but I don't.
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1 comment:
Love this post. I feel like this is such a critical issue for women in all professions that demand excessive hours and excellence- kind of like feminism's dirty little secret. I hate that no one asks how a guy can be a good dad and a kick ass professional working 60-80 hours a week. I feel you- I am wanting more time with my kids. Not a doc- just do the program design and writing that funds public health and FQHCs.
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