Gender and the issue of Obstetrics

The issue of choosing obstetrics can raise an ethical dilemma, between choosing male obstetrics or female obstetrics. The main problem arise from the fact that woman will be exposing their ''private parts'' to someone, which is not their husband. Some would argue, either male or female, as long as the doctors are professional and match with the need of the patient so, nothing wrong with that. The other side of the argument will argue that the vocation of obstetrics should be female only, bringing the possibility of abuse which happened, unnoticed often. What we can do about this choice? Regarding this, surely everyone has their own opinion but for me we need to dismantle some myth that revolves around so that we can have a better and objective view, and not merely here say. 

First, the myth that male obstetrics is more competent than female which I often heard is actually quite misleading. It does not necessary follow that if majority obstetrics are male, then male is automatically be a best obstetrics out there. Second, the other myth regarding male obstetrics that I also heard that is this, since male obstetrics is a man, therefore, they will definitely will be aroused when they are exposed to the private parts of every woman. As male, they see woman only as sexual object. In other words, white collar does not make them immune to this problem. For me, this view have an assumption of sexist philosophy that is unfairly applied to male obstetrics and also a kind of gender stereotyping. Regarding this issue of choosing the obstetrics, for certain, we need to be careful not to fall into those circulated wrong myths and be more equitable to deal with choosing male or female obstetrics.

First step of all, husband need to discuss which option will be selected with wife and have one firm conclusion together. Male partner should not ''forcefully'' choose things for the wife, with the pre-conception that ''male know the best'' for at the end the day, the woman is the one who give birth not man. Otherwise we will treat our wife in the dominating manner like the Ancient Romans as Marry Beard wrote in her book about the ancient Rome, ''...the freedom a woman enjoyed in the choice of husband could.'' I think, regarding issue of choosing, the Husband can raise a suggestion, but at the end of the day, the lady is the one who need to choose her obstetrics base on the objective data  I presented, not a bias view. It is wrong to subject the freedom of wife under the authoritarian choice of husband. 

Personally, one of the greatest argument of choosing the obstetrics for me, personally is that the argument from subjective experience. John Smith, a gynecologist  and author the book entitled Woman and Doctors pointed out that the woman gynecologist are more sensitive and have better understanding of their patient sexuality and problem. I agree with Smith. For at the end the day, female obstetrics gain the knowledge of the issue not only from text book or second hand perspectives, but she herself know how does it feel to experience pregnancy (If the female doctor was married) or any related thing regarding the private parts of female for she definitely shared the similar part thus, most likely to know what best treatment of the same kind in any possible context. 

Having said that, I do not diminished the capacity of male obstetrics. Nevertheless, it is a fundamental fact that male obstetrics  will never get the deeper knowledge like female does naturally. Or to put it more precise, the knowledge from and of first hand-experience. In antiquity we also have a long history of female as the one who handle the pregnancy, that's the natural order from the past, only until the advance of medical education, we see the raising male Obstetrics for the reason of most female cannot have a fair access to formal education. 

Moreover, if we are in line with the tradition that experience is a superior way of knowledge consequently, it is more easy for us to  choose the female obstetrics over male obstetrics. Well, I do not buy experience is superior kind of knowledge, but I believe experience can give a very valuable insight, and sometimes, can be superior in so many ways and context. In reality, although I read several books and history of America, whenever I have a conversation with people who are staying there even for a short, somehow I feel that the other person know much more better than me especially about the feeling of staying in America, the weather, the people, the culture and so on. They have a colorful knowledge of America whereby I have black and white knowledge of America. 

Therefore, base on this argument, I would prefer the female obstetrics over male obstetrics, assuming both are equally competent in their field. I believe some will have their counter argument for this, but once again, at the end of the day, it's depend of the choice of my partner. I can just share my view. Last but not least, equally important that practically, we need to discuss what best for her so that so, she is able to communicate her feeling out. And to share what happened inside of her, biologically and psychology. Male or female doctor? For Indeed, without comfortable and open conversation regarding the inner condition to the Doctor, there will be never will be a best possible care happening.