Journal Title
Title of Journal: Gend Issues
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Abbravation: Gender Issues
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Authors: Elianne Riska Aurelija Novelskaite
Publish Date: 2008/11/04
Volume: 25, Issue: 4, Pages: 229-
Abstract
This study examines the medical profession in postSoviet society where women have been in the majority of the physicians for almost seven decades It examines pediatricians’ and surgeons’ definitions of the professional skills and qualities needed for “good” work Lithuania is used as a case study Thirtysix semistructured interviews were conducted in 2005 with male and female surgeons and pediatricians in Lithuania The results show that the gender composition of the specialty—surgery being a maledominated and pediatrics a femaledominated specialty—tended to influence the way that physicians perceived the qualities needed for good work For surgeons malegendered qualities were prerequisites for being a good surgeon physical strength and being in control Female surgeons added a femalegendered quality—empathy and compassion—that made them good surgeons A good pediatrician had a holistic and empathic approach and an ability to communicate which were seen as femalegendered skills Male pediatricians experienced otherness in this specialty but did not as women surgeons did offer a counter discourse in order to legitimate themselves as being as skilled as womenAn earlier version of this article was presented at the 102nd annual meeting of the American Sociological Association New York in 2007 The authors wish to thank Sirpa Wrede Katherine McCracken and the anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions
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