Hospital de Cruces plastic surgeon Laura Cabañas Weisz launched an initiative through her Instagram account this Monday to collect macho comments from patients and medical colleagues heard by herself and colleagues from centers across Spain. “While most medical staff are women, we are often involved machine situations in our daily practice and sexist comments and attitudes bordering on harassment, ”he denounces.
This Bilbao specialist assures that in many cases patients call them ‘girl’ or ‘sweetheart’ or say phrases like ‘what a beautiful doctor’, ‘what luck, some young girls touched me‘or they ask us,’ When is the doctor coming? Among their colleagues they also hear sexist and derogatory comments such as “think carefully about medicine and your professional career if you want to become a mother” or “since women are allowed to practice, this looks like a hairdresser.”
“In many sectors, such as politics, film or journalism, these sexist behaviors are denounced. In healthcare, however, it is less common and if you raise your voice you will be labeled as difficult, problematic or unprofessional, ”emphasizes the Bilbao surgeon. It is necessary, he emphasizes, to count those behaviors “Often repeated in the medical world”“At a time when health workers are so essential, it must be emphasized that the majority of us are women. We take care of you and you and we have to go with our heads high, ”she defends. Dozens of professionals have supported the initiative and posted comments received during their professional life.