Medical and Social Dynamics of College Women's Interactions with Their Gynecologists

Bibliographic Data

ID2274516
AuthorsPamela J Griffith (SUNY Geneseo, corresponding author)
Year1997
Volume67
Issue4
Pages397-408
Publication date1997-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Inquiry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0245 • E-ISSN: 1475-682X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-682x.1997.tb00444.x
OpenAlexW2094866473
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited7

Using data collected from twenty in-depth interviews with female college students from SUNY Geneseo, a small selective public college in western New York, this paper examines the nature of college women's clinical interactions with their gynecologists. The author focuses on the female patient's role as a passive participant. The general finding was that, although some women do take an active role in the clinical interaction, most readily accept the doctor's authority and their own vulnerability without question. A majority of the interviewees reported that they did not have any questions for their gynecologist and stressed their own focus on 'just getting it [the exam] over with,' while those who did report asking questions characterized themselves as exceptionally strong women. The author offers possible explanations for the women's disinterest and discusses the implications for the women's health movement

Dynamics (music) · Focus (optics) · Focus group · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Vulnerability (computing) · Anthropology · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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