Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Gorup, Michael

Area of Concentration

Liberal Arts

Abstract

This thesis seeks to provide background on the history of obstetrics and gynecology and analyze patient-provider relationships in care and the practice of OB GYN. In particular, how gender relates to care in a field dedicated to women’s contemporary health. In efforts to analyze these concepts as well as how and why gender plays such a highly gendered and sexualized role relating to this subspecialty of medicine, I utilize various methods and sources: historical scholarship, empirical studies and reviews, and articles addressing OB GYN. My research concludes that most female OB GYN patients do indicate physician preference. Though this theme is recurrent, gender preference was majorly indicated only when asked and given the opportunity to decide between physicians on the basis of gender. Though most OB GYN patients did prove to be more partial to female providers on the basis of comfortability, patients overall were most concerned with provider skills and other traits. This is relevant to not only patient satisfaction and wellness, but provider concerns regarding practice. Though gender is a recurring, sexualized theme in OB GYN care and practice, the concept of gender loses relevance when compared with other provider traits and skills such as competency, bedside manners, and more.

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