A glutton for punishment, I started in on one of the books we are using for the summer session at x-ray school. Under Culturally Significant Attitudes Toward Health Care, there is this paragraph...

Research shows that women perceive health care more favorably than men do. In general, women are better informed about health care issues and more willing to talk about their health problems. Since men are less aware of health issues, they may fail to seek health care promptly when needed, hoping to avoid confronting that which they do not understand. They may perceive the need for treatment as a sign of weakness or vulnerability. Touching while providing health care is also perceived more positively by women than by men. Women find it reassuring and comforting, while men find personal touch less positive.

I don't believe this shit. This is so fucking stereotypical that I cannot believe they allow this in a textbook. Now, after reading this, I assumed the book to be written by a woman. Granted, I'm just as bad at stereotyping as the next person, I would assume the book to be written by men, but I changed my mind after reading this passage, before I looked. Not only is it written by a women, but three.

While the above assertions may be true for some, the passage suggests it's typical, which is most certainly not the case. Plus, there are a lot of techniques up there that are used in op ed pieces when someone wants to get a certain view across, such as 'may fail to seek' and 'may perceive'. These phrases always lead opinions in an effort to pass them off as gospel. It is interesting that all the ideas take on negative connotations in the context of the paragraph with respect to men and positive with respect to women. First they improperly cite some research, then draw lots of conclusions that are obviously gender biased. This is done in a chapter that supposedly deals with professional attitudes!

We should give patients the benefit of the doubt, and assume they are responsible and as objective as possible in their roles when receiving health care, but be aware that their may be differences that will show themselves as the relationship progresses. The above passage suggests we should assume the opposite first, how professional is that?

Here is my completely unprofessional ideas as to how the paragraph could be written...

Research shows the women perceive health care differently than men do. In general, women are better informed about health care issues, because they spend a lot more time in the hospital complaining about inconsequential ailments. Women are more willing to talk about their health problems because they have an inherent need to commiserate with others. Men are less aware of health issues because they spend more time away from health care facilities. They may fail to seek health care promptly when needed because they may feel what they are doing is more important than the cut on their finger, or the stomach pains that are probably due to hunger. Touching during health care is perceived more positively by women, unless of course the health care provider is male, then they may interpret any physical contact as a violation of their privacy, no matter how mundane. Men find personal touch less positive, because they feel their objective rational explanations to any health care professional is sufficient information for the provider to make an adequate assessment and diagnosis.