Abstract

VILLANUEVA, Marcia. “The Alpha is the Surgeon”: Gender Stereotypes and Prestige in Medical Specialties. Rev. interdiscip. estud. género Col. Méx. [online]. 2023, vol.9, e1054.  Epub Oct 20, 2023. ISSN 2395-9185.  https://doi.org/10.24201/reg.v9i1.1054.

This article addresses the problem of the hierarchy and sexual division of labor within the medical profession. The objective was to identify the gender stereotypes associated with some medical specialties and how this relates to prestige of these disciplines. The analysis was based on a series of memes shared on social networks by health professionals, subsequently commented upon in four discussion groups made up of Mexican medical students and specialists. The findings show that the medical profession has a gendered hierarchy in which hegemonic and subordinate masculinities are reproduced, and in which heterosexuality plays a determining role, thus avoiding simplifications that merely classify some medical specialties as feminine and others as masculine. This work provides tools to challenge and dismantle gender stereotypes associated with medical specialties, contributing to progress toward gender equality in the medical profession.

Keywords : sexual division of labor; medical specialties; gender stereotypes; prestige; hegemonic masculinity.