On Today's Episode of 'Things Men Say to Women in Surgery'

You know those days you put on an outfit that you think is sending a very clear message? For me, it was my scrubs… the ones with my name and "Orthopaedic Surgery" stitched in bright white letters across my chest. Literally a walking billboard for my job title. You'd think that would be enough to avoid any confusion, right? Apparently not.

Consider this a short rant… or a public service announcement about the persistence of stereotypes in surgery.

So just the other day, I was doing a 12-hour on-call shift in the A&E, surviving on little more than coffee fumes, grace and the sheer will to make it to my bed at the end of the call. I'm reviewing a polytrauma patient, minding my own business, and generally just trying to exist. My scrubs, for the record, clearly state I’m from Orthopaedics. Come to realize, that still wasn’t convincing enough because a few minutes later, I had a very ‘interesting’ dialogue with a male colleague.

Him: Which department are you from?

Me: Ortho.

Him: No, for real… you must be rotating.

Me: (Pointing to the very clear embroidery on my scrubs) I am not rotating, I’m an ortho resident.

Him: Where are your muscles? Why do you want to defy God?

I had to laugh. Because honestly, it was the most ridiculous thing I’d heard all week. For the record, I do go to the gym (well.. sometimes) and I have a tiny bit of muscle, alright? But clearly, not enough to meet the entry requirements for orthopaedics in his world. How dare a woman do ortho in this century??🤣

The talk of needing big, broad muscles to survive ortho isn’t new but who knew that God didn't approve of women in ortho??? Now, this was new! According to him, God’s blueprint for surgeons must include biceps the size of watermelons😝 and, of course, a Y chromosome.

But this conversation wasn't really about my non-existent gym routine. It was an unfiltered glimpse into the reality many women in surgery face. And truthfully, not just women in surgery. It’s a struggle familiar to every woman who’s ever had her expertise questioned simply because she didn’t fit the outdated image of what a professional in her field ‘should’ look like.

The barriers aren't always the complex cases or the demanding schedules. Sometimes, the first thing we have to slice through is a thick wall of stereotype, just to be seen as credible.

And while I’ll never match some of my male colleagues in brute strength, I promise you, the most important muscle in this job is still the one between my ears. 😉

So yes, I’m in orthopaedics. No, I’m not rotating. And yes, God and I are just fine with that.

End of rant. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Oh, and just to be clear, I have some fantastic male colleagues, mentors and friends who lift me up (figuratively, not literally 💪🏾). This isn’t about them. It’s about dismantling the outdated stereotypes that still linger. At the end of the day, surgery isn’t about who has the biggest muscles… it’s about who brings the right skills, steady hands, a sharp mind, willingness to learn and the biggest heart to the table.

It’s been a minute, fam, and I’m so glad to be back! Happy new month!😉

XOXO