Females not wanted

Prepare to be blasted. Your attitude is going to get you nowhere either here or anywhere else. The last thing we need on our previously friendly board is one more issue of contention. Perhaps you should apply to OB/GYN if you're worried about things. If you're good and qualified you should have nothing to fear regardless. I'm wondering: Would you let one person's judgement about a program concerning their perceived gender bias determine whether you'll "waste your time/energy/blah blah blah" applying there? Seems like a pathetic way to determine where you'll apply to, but maybe that's just me. You're name is a little unoriginal btw.

Sincerely, OrthofixatION

fixation,
dude. chill on the crack, crystal or what ever it is that has you so paranoid and agitated. she asked a legit question. she's trying to avoid tools like you. maybe you should visit the rate my kitty website if you don't like a any contraversy.
this chick (sorry) prob has a bigger sack than you just being female and thinking of ortho,(male dominated)
grow up.
in response i as a guy didnt see any places openly anti female so go for it.
)

most places seemed fine... mayby albert einstein in philly but that is only based on word of mouth by a woman who rotated there. As you know, "orthofixated," guys are guys and most places you go they are going to break your chops... but then again most places, the guys are all breaking everyones chops... that is one of the fun things about ortho.... the people

except when match time comes near and people are a bit more on edge.
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Fixated -
I've run into a few gals on the trail -- the overwhelming feeling is that the gender thing is NOT an issue unless you make it one. That being said, fixation has a point in that females who aren't prepared to try to be one of the guys will be unhappy and not fit in most places. I'm assuming you're OK with that if you're thinking about ortho at all though. Don't listen to the rumors about female friendly or not -- statements like that don't mean s%!t most of the time -- example -- Cincy: reputation -- ' female unfriendly' -- reality -- Dr. Stern would LOVE to have the right, well-qualified female in his program. Don't make this an issue and everyone will be more comfortable.

G-love you'll have to forgive me...I just came off my OB/GYN rotation in all of its splendor. All I've heard about is gender issues for 6 weeks so it didn't take much to jerk my chain. Btw, I checked out the rate a kitty website but it was a little soft for me
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.

So my tempered comments go something like this. I believe women are generally welcome in ortho. I've heard faculty at my school more than once say that they are always trying to cultivate interest in in any female(s) who show any interest in ortho. I can't speak for other schools, but I'm sure it's not an isolated feeling. I personally don't have any issue with any qualified individual--male or female--being in ortho. This (gender) issue in general has tremendous volatility potential and it is for that reason that it deserves judicious and objective treatment. I must say that the title "females not wanted" elicited some of that volatility in me because it set a contentious tone from the start. Presentation is certainly key to anything. So, there's my objective $.02.

I would be happy to let you know what I have experienced as a female applicant interviewing around the country.

Sorry guys, but there ARE some not-so-friendly-to-female-programs!

There was previously a HUGE thread on women in orthopaedics that got completely out of control. So, send me a personal email and we can talk.

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There's some people seriously walking around with their heads in the clouds if you don't believe that there's some female un-friendly programs out there. And a chairman can say whatever the h$%& he/she wants about wanting females in the program, but when you look around and there's one female applicant out of 20 and there's not one female in the program there's something up. Actions speak louder than words. But there's definitely programs that I would rank as female friendly and others as not so friendly and some that are some where in between. And in the land of bubble gum and cotton candy applicants would be viewed based on his/her merits and never by the color of their skin or their gender, but we live in the real world. It does happen.

I interviewed at three places where I was told that ortho was a male specialty and that they would not take a female applicant. All three of these programs had the unfortunate experience of having their first female resident in history drop out and go into a less demanding field during their intern years. There were females interviewing at all of these programs, but I don't think they have a chance of matching there. I think you best bet as a female is to check the program websites to see if they have female residents and apply to every program that does. That doesn't mean don't apply to programs that don't have females, but make sure to apply to any that do.

I agree with Ortho2003 for the most part....I applied everywhere that I would be willing to go regardless if there were current or previous female residents.

However, even places with female residents are not necessarily "female friendly." A good gauge to determine how "female friendly" a place is (when you are interviewing) is to think about the types of questions they ask you and not your XY conterparts. This will tell you more about the character of the program that anything that anyone else says.

In the end, you have to decide if you would rather be an orthopod and put up with some of the b*&# s#*! or not.

It is unfortunate that when one female changes her career choice, it reflects poorly on future female applicants....it is not fair, but it is realistic. It is interesting though, that when guys change programs, you don't hear much about it.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

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h well:

ortho2003, care to share those three programs so that the female applicants don't waste their time. That's fine if certain programs want to be exclusive. Anyway, it would be no fun to match where you were not wanted There are plenty other programs out there to choose from.
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things to clarify:

1) i intentionally picked "females not wanted" as an inflammatory topic just to get people to read, that's all. there's too many threads that go by unread and unanswered because the subject title isn't intriguing enough.

2) actually, if you read my original post, i never asked to hear about "female FRIENDLY programs." i sure as h$%& don't want to be accepted anywhere for the sake of having female genitals. i was actually turned off by the program affiliated with my med school (which is a very good program) because their first response to my interest was "GREAT, we are looking to add more women!" i simply wanted to know where gender might become an issue AT ALL, because what i really want is an atmosphere where i'm viewed just like every one of the males out there, simply looking to get some good training in orthopedics. i specifically want to avoid a place that sees me first as female, and then as an ortho resident.

RedHead-- thanks for the heads up. I certainly will email you.

Orthofixation-- sorry i appalled you by having a similar name. i didn't waste my time examining all the names that were already being used. my take on the similarity would have been that "great minds think alike".
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Peace fixated. I like your take that great minds think alike. My post was a little inflammatory I admit. I think I understand your desire for equanimity. Best of luck finding it as we all know that total gender neutrality will probably never exist, but it would be nice. Are you an M3? Anyway, see you around on the board.