Sisters read this!

As'Salaamu Alaikum ya Muslimeen!

I wonder sisters is it discourage in our community especially for a man of the communtiy to be a OB/GYN doctor? It sounds like a no brainer but for all seriousness what do you sisters think? Also yes Angel your response is also necessary it gives the flavor of anothe ropinion....

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah

Israfil wrote: As'Salaamu Alaikum ya Muslimeen! I wonder sisters is it discourage in our community especially for a man of the communtiy to be a OB/GYN doctor? It sounds like a no brainer but for all seriousness what do you sisters think? Also yes Angel your response is also necessary it gives the flavor of anothe ropinion....

I have no idea. But I do wonder why men opt for this profession. It could be that from the beginning of science, when the population of women coming in workforce was small, men took over, and the tradition is being carried down till today.

I agree with sister Ummziba, it is definitely more comfortable to see a female doc for reasons of modesty and shyness. It is easier to communicate and less embarassing while going thru a pap test or a digital exam. 

I think men can be as efficient obgyns as a woman, when they go thru a professional training, so I have no reason to doubt a male docs ability, but I wish they had left this area exclusively for women to specialize in

We know that if a woman is forced by necessity to see a male doc, there is no blame on her. So, I hope if a man is forced by necessity to opt for this profession, there would not be any blame. After all the job is to benefit the society at large.

Maa salaama,

Nausheen

Assalamu alaikum Brother Israfil,

I will be more blunt - for myself, I would rather die than go to a male ob/gyn.  It has nothing to do with his competence or knowledge or qualifications.  It is purely a matter of modesty.  Maybe other sisters feel differently.

Either male or female can do the job.  But, why would a male choose this job?  (I mean, especially a male Muslim - who is not supposed to even see his father's or brother's private parts - why would he chose a job in which he would see something he is not supposed to???) 

Allah tells us in the Qur'an to "lower our gaze and guard our modesty".  Does a Muslim male ob/gyn follow this?  Does a Muslim female who goes to a male ob/gyn follow this?  Of course, in necessity, there is no sin on either.

I know, in the west, females are used to male ob/gyn's, but that doesn't make it right.  Myself, I thank Allah for women who choose to go into this field, they are badly needed.

Peace, ummziba.

As'Salaamu Alaikum Muslimahs

In God's name I love each and every one of my sister sin Islam for their great knowledge!

Ummmziba you are indeed a righteous person when it comes to one explaining herself. You are indeed right to criticize that scenario. The one thing I understand little about this profession is the female anatomy is all the same--or similar in the sense of their fuctions and their generations. When it comes to these professions sister we have to be careful and not generalize. The knowledge of a female gynecologist and male gynecologist are the same. The go through the same schooling and practice in the same field. Their only difference is perhaps the salary and their sex.

Sister I for one understand the comfort level when it comes to examination. I remmber when playing basketball in college we used to get exams by one physician. All male athletes know about the cough cough check up. To me that was embarassing exposing myself to a male but I now understand that in my mind it was embarassing because I felt exposed but perhaps in the mind oh the physician it was "another job."

The main point of medicine as I understand it is the advancement of medicine and perhaps how we react to such methods are dependednt on our culture/experience. I now know here that majority of you here with the exception of MayPB would be uncomfortable just for reasons of preference. Perhaps its more of preference than anything I see.... To answer you question sister, why would a male choose that line of profession? Well the most noblest answer would be to better understand the human anatomy and to better advance the human condition.