Oh you want to be an orthopedic surgeon? Congrats, but it’ll be hard for you once you’ll want to start a family.
Wow thank you for the clarity, I NEVER thought about that before!
Actually, I think you’re right. I’ll have a pretty hard time. Why not choosing a more « family friendly » specialization like internal medicine or pediatrics so I can have plenty of time to take care of my family. Because yes, I’ll have to do it ALL BY MYSELF (you know, because my husband will be too busy building his own career) and at least I won’t have to worry about not filling my logbook when I’ll get pregnant and take care of a baby. And I always loved visiting patients FOR HOURS just to adjust a diuretic (sorry pals, I really hate that).
Oh and guess what, orthopedic surgery is the man’s specialization by excellence. I mean, have you seen all the blood ? And the hammers ? It’s like building an IKEA wardrobe everyday, and I don’t think a « classy » woman like me would fit in that environment. And they say guys in there can really be douches and I’ll have to be build a tough personality if I don’t want to be humiliated everyday. You see, I think you’re totally right, why would I ever want to be in a place dominated by men, I don’t even have the physical stature to do that (you know, I’ve never had to plant a nail in my entire life).
Of course, I’m being ironic and I’m exaggerating a little too much but this is really what I hear the most whenever I tell someone that I’m interested in orthopeadic surgery. I also realized that I always had to justify myself when I got asked that question when instead I wouldn’t have to do it if I chose another specialty. I know people usually just want to be kind and helpful but I think our studies and our profession is already super hard (since medicine takes up to 80% of my life and I’d be lying if I said otherwise) so YES of COURSE I know that it’s gonna be hard, but thanks for the consideration.
I fell in love with ortho during my clinical rotations, and I enrolled for a year in general surgery, starting in Nov. 2021. I’ll see how it is by myself, and maybe one day I’ll give up and you’ll think « see? I told you! » but for the moment I want to try and make my own opinion.
So if you’re in the same situation, let me tell you something : you signed up for 30+ years of hard work and endless shifts, so yes your life will be pretty shitty anyway, so choose at least something you’ll enjoy doing on a daily basis.
You’re welcome,
Margot