Dress codes around the country feature tinges of misogyny that in some places are more well veiled than in others. If your dress code had some sort of extra special regulation for girls, congratulations! You found the misogyny!
What you may not have known is that sometimes, this level of discrimination extends all the way past normal public education, through higher education, into post-graduate education, as a med student found out the hard way after a recent exam.
#medtwitter A friend did their OSCE\u2019s with me recently & got yellow carded for wearing a \u201cshort skirt\u201d\u2026 could someone explain to me how it\u2019s 2021 & medical schools are still pushing sexist notions of primness upon its female student cohort, for daring to display their ankles.pic.twitter.com/WFjMdxou4m— Ciar\u00e1n (@Ciar\u00e1n) 1624641450
Update: I complained to the university, their response was \u2018it was the most inappropriate dress they had ever seen\u2019 and then stated that the examiners word is final and the investigation is closed isn\u2019t discrimination lovely.https://twitter.com/MedicGrandpa/status/1408474445694570496\u00a0\u2026— The Graduate Medic (@The Graduate Medic) 1631125860
I would also add that the complaint details that I wasn\u2019t wearing leg coverings, and subsequently that they wouldn\u2019t want me to treat their friends or a family member because of it.— The Graduate Medic (@The Graduate Medic) 1631131023
I will say that I still haven\u2019t had a whisper of an apology. Other than an email that came in reply to me before I posted, I\u2019ve had no one from the institution contact me. No one from the SU. I was asked to be DMed, but never received one. Only the public statement.— The Graduate Medic (@The Graduate Medic) 1631295063
The student, known as Twitter user @thegradmedic, complained to the University of Newcastle, who responded via Twitter after further condemning her dress in private:
We want to apologise once again to @thegradmedic for any offence or distress caused by this incident.\nThe comment was made by a role-play patient as part of an exam. \nAll comments made by patients in exams are passed on to students as feedback. (1/3)https://twitter.com/thegradmedic/status/1435672030943358978\u00a0\u2026— Newcastle University (@Newcastle University) 1631183311
However, we agree it should not have resulted in a yellow card from the examiner. This is why, when the concerns were raised with us by @thegradmedic earlier this year, they were investigated and the yellow card was rescinded. (2/3)— Newcastle University (@Newcastle University) 1631183312
We would not want any student to come away from these exams feeling remarks like this in any way reflect the values of the University and the issues will be addressed in future examination briefings. (3/3)— Newcastle University (@Newcastle University) 1631183312
However, she responded shortly thereafter saying that the University was not telling the entire truth.
"This is infactual information," she said in response.
"It came apparently from the patient and examiner alike - I asked for verification that it came from the patient and received none - the investigation started with 'we asked the clinician' and ended with that."
Folks were not thrilled with the University.
To apologise for \u201cany offence or distressed\u201d caused is not an apology. \n\nAlso ALL comments made by patients are passed on to students as \u201cfeedback\u201d? Even if sexist, racist, discriminatory, derogatory? You don\u2019t have a policy to screen for this?— Neena Jha (@Neena Jha) 1631193665
I think there are 3 approaches to 'all pt comments = student feedback'-\n1. Get SPs that aren't rank misogynists\n2. Get examiners who aren't rank misogynists so they can correct the situation immediately\n3. Get staff who aren't rank misogynists so they can correct it on review.— Rhea Liang (@Rhea Liang) 1631188298
This is appalling. When I did finals the outfit she was wearing would have been regarded as extremely professional & appropriate. It's the length I wore as a junior doctor every single day. That a "patient" was remarking on the "doctors'" legs seems far more inappropriate here.— Katie Porter (@Katie Porter) 1631186948
Perhaps you encourage your examiners or patients to check this guidance before passing judgement on a student\u2019s appearance, because the examiner/patient in question has clearly never worked with a woman in a professional setting before: \n\nhttps://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/uniforms-and-workwear/\u00a0\u2026— Adam Calthrop (@Adam Calthrop) 1631185034
The fight to get the yellow-card withdrawn continues, but our testee, @TheGradMedic, has stated that she will not be giving further details--only raising awareness of the issue so that society is not under the impression this doesn't happen anymore.
"I hope I've raised it in a way that is both appropriate but will invoke awareness/change. I hope it leads to wider questions being asked RE discrimination, policies, but also the freedom (or lack of) for students/doctors to discuss issues without fear of repercussions."
Our eyes certainly will be on the issue from now on.
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