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Doctors Doing Gender at Eye Clinics—Gender Constructions in Relation to Waiting Times for Cataract Extractions in Sweden

Smirthwaite, Goldina ; Lundström, Mats LU and Swahnberg, Katarina (2017) In NORA - Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research 25(2). p.107-125
Abstract

Why do eye clinics differ in their waiting times for women’s and men’s access to cataract extraction (CE)/“grå starroperation”? Taking a doing-gender perspective as the starting point, this study explores how gender constructions embedded in Swedish eye clinics contribute to longer waiting times for women than for men. Focus group interviews were conducted with doctors at two Swedish eye clinics: one with a larger and another with a smaller than average gender difference in waiting times for CE. Several differences were found between the clinics regarding how gender was constructed: Women and men were constructed as different with respect to ascribed traits such as assertiveness and care-seeking behaviour. Their need for visual acuity... (More)

Why do eye clinics differ in their waiting times for women’s and men’s access to cataract extraction (CE)/“grå starroperation”? Taking a doing-gender perspective as the starting point, this study explores how gender constructions embedded in Swedish eye clinics contribute to longer waiting times for women than for men. Focus group interviews were conducted with doctors at two Swedish eye clinics: one with a larger and another with a smaller than average gender difference in waiting times for CE. Several differences were found between the clinics regarding how gender was constructed: Women and men were constructed as different with respect to ascribed traits such as assertiveness and care-seeking behaviour. Their need for visual acuity in working life was perceived as different by the doctors, and the study indicates differences between the clinics regarding their interest and awareness concerning issues related to inequity, reflected in the dissimilar prevalence of jokes with racist and misogynist connotations at the two clinics.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
access to care, cataract extraction, cataract surgery, doing gender, equity, focus groups, Gender, intersectionality
in
NORA - Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research
volume
25
issue
2
pages
107 - 125
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85025811226
  • wos:000408930600004
ISSN
0803-8740
DOI
10.1080/08038740.2017.1345006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ce30f400-321e-4cc8-8b23-f09ad98eafdd
date added to LUP
2017-08-02 09:26:01
date last changed
2024-02-29 19:20:54
@article{ce30f400-321e-4cc8-8b23-f09ad98eafdd,
  abstract     = {{<p>Why do eye clinics differ in their waiting times for women’s and men’s access to cataract extraction (CE)/“grå starroperation”? Taking a doing-gender perspective as the starting point, this study explores how gender constructions embedded in Swedish eye clinics contribute to longer waiting times for women than for men. Focus group interviews were conducted with doctors at two Swedish eye clinics: one with a larger and another with a smaller than average gender difference in waiting times for CE. Several differences were found between the clinics regarding how gender was constructed: Women and men were constructed as different with respect to ascribed traits such as assertiveness and care-seeking behaviour. Their need for visual acuity in working life was perceived as different by the doctors, and the study indicates differences between the clinics regarding their interest and awareness concerning issues related to inequity, reflected in the dissimilar prevalence of jokes with racist and misogynist connotations at the two clinics.</p>}},
  author       = {{Smirthwaite, Goldina and Lundström, Mats and Swahnberg, Katarina}},
  issn         = {{0803-8740}},
  keywords     = {{access to care; cataract extraction; cataract surgery; doing gender; equity; focus groups; Gender; intersectionality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{107--125}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{NORA - Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research}},
  title        = {{Doctors Doing Gender at Eye Clinics—Gender Constructions in Relation to Waiting Times for Cataract Extractions in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08038740.2017.1345006}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/08038740.2017.1345006}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}