Why are there mostly women here?

Hello! It seems like most of the posts here are by women. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but I find it interesting especially considering more and more women are going into medicine these days (see this article). With that said, I am taking a poll!

[Auspicious]

Interesting question. I would be interested in knowing what percentage of female doctors are single compared to the percentage of male doctors. Maybe it's possible that the number of women doctors is close to equal the number of men doctors, but there are fewer men married to doctors than women married to doctors?

Also, is it possible that due to various cultural pressures, men are less likely to reach out for support from a community like this one?

I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling really glad for the recent influx of male posters--It's really great to have that other perspective, and helps me sort out which issues in my own relationship are male/female issues and which are medical-career/non-medical-career ones.

[DCJenn]

Some thoughts...

As the resident sociologist, I believe that this comes entirely from the fact that as women we are accustomed to searching out others and getting and giving support. I don't think that very many men realize that 1) there are support networks such as ours available 2) that by participating in a support network they are not weak, and 3) that going it alone is not necessarily the best way to get through life.

Now, those few of you guys who are here- obviously have it a little more figured out.

Another possibility- I know that in my husband's program, a majority of the women are married to or dating other doctors. So, perhaps that's also limiting the male participants here. As for those who are in same sex relationships- I don't know, I hope those guys feel welcome here, too.

[PrincessFiona]

question...

I wish that I knew the answer. We have had requests several times to have the MrMD forums.....participation usually involves lurking only. This means that no one is posting :!:

I'm not sure how to increase the level of participation. I'm not a guy , so I don't know exactly what the needs are and how to fulfill them. We have a very small corner of the website for articles for the guys and really no articles in the newsletter for the men either. Maybe one of the men wants to tackle writing an article for the newsletter?

My experience with the website is that it takes a lot of time for a forum to either fail or grow...and lots of posting to keep people interested and coming back. When the website itself was just starting, there were only two or three people and it has taken a few years to reach this moderate level of activity.

I did go to the mommd website and announce that the forums were open, and we do have several new male subscribers......

I'm willing to hear your thoughts or help with any suggestions that you may have.

Kris

oh oh oh. (Me raising my hand ) Can I make a suggestion?

A while ago, someone brought up having "guy talk" about sports, cars, etc. There was some affirmative postings supporting that idea. I was thinking - and I don't know how sizable a project this would be - that maybe we can have a separate section for all Sports. With Pro & college football, the NBA & NHL in high season, we may get more postings from our male members that way.

Anyway, just my $.02

oh oh oh. (Me raising my hand ) Can I make a suggestion?

A while ago, someone brought up having "guy talk" about sports, cars, etc. There was some affirmative postings supporting that idea. I was thinking - and I don't know how sizable a project this would be - that maybe we can have a separate section for all Sports. With Pro & college football, the NBA & NHL in high season, we may get more postings from our male members that way.

Anyway, just my $.02

Ok, well that was me about the sports, cars etc. The truth is that I couldn't think of any controversial to start up a conversation!! Sorry I dropped the ball on that one...

Men

A lot of us don't have time between the kids, house, yard, animals, and the 147,111 things on the "HONEY DO" list. (I was going to say, "Realistically, men are normally "doers" and find that it's easier to fix the problem rather than take the time to get 20 opinions on HOW to fix the problem, even if it's fixed wrong!! .", but decided NOT to. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[PrincessFiona]

sports...

See...now the sports thing would have seemed like stereotyping to me

I'd venture to guess that because the forum was originally started by women..and is now pretty female dominated that men might feel put off? I'm not sure....as to being busy between kids, house, etc...I think all the females are too....I think you're more right about men looking for a solution and then just fixing it instead of talking about it..

But...there are plenty of men at the sdn that sit around and jab about not only med school, but a variety of topics......

None of the guys want to join us

Kris

[Michele]

Russ spends his "online time" at FatWallet.com and looking for other deals....oh and at ESPN. We have about equal online time but I do have a little more. I spend mine here and at the WeddingChannel. I think it's a "girls seek more girls" and guys "grunt." :P

Michele