Celebrate Equal Pay Day!

Women have consistently made less money than men for the same (if not better quality) work.  Today, ironically on Tax Day, we celebrate Equal Pay Day.  Today, April 17th, 2012, marks the day when women make the same amount than men made...in 2011.  Yes, that's right.  Women are still making 77 cents to every dollar than men are making, despite the fact that women are quickly becoming the better educated and qualified gender.

What can we do to end the disparity?  First, let's educate ourselves.  Download the fact sheet from the American Association of University Women website.  Also, check out the AAUW's website dedicated to the cause.  Second, support the Paycheck Fairness Act by signing this online petition and writing to your representative.

We ladies get educated, do consistently excellent work, support the economy, and provide care for our families.  Let's get compensated fairly for our hard work.

Perfect Day

Yes, that's not a mistake.  The title of this post is "day," not "date!"

At a certain point in training, you start to realize that you will soon get a "real job."  Between those words lie the emotions of exhilaration and sheer panic.

As a physician, I'm realizing I have more options than I know what to do with.  Private practice or academic?  Group or individual practice?  Research?  Clinical or basic science or translational?  Prospective or retrospective?  Teaching?  Where?  How?  At what salary?  At what hours?

I feel like my brain is going to explode just thinking about it.  But...I have to think about it.  It's getting to be that time!

I recently read a book about financial planning geared towards women called The Smart Cookie's Guide to Making More Dough.  As an aside, I loved this book and highly recommend it.

An exercise in the book asks you to describe your "perfect day."  Literally, pick up your pen, laptop, whatever, and from start to finish, what does a perfect day look like?  Or, what would be your perfect life?

I was reading this as I was on my way to Key West for a dear friend's destination wedding.  This incredible woman, one of the most amazing nurses I have ever known, has achieved her perfect day in the past couple years.  She got a Master's degree, got her dream job, and now was marrying the love of her life.  She earned her perfect day is is living it.  I couldn't have been happier for her after so many late nights on the wards, talking about the many challenges we both faced.

Now, as I sit on the brink of my own future, I wonder what the hell I actually want out of my life.  During residency, I was in survival mode--one day to the next till it's done.  Now, in the research portion of my fellowship, I am well-rested, able to think clearly, and in a place where I am expanding my mind professionally and personally.  For once in my otherwise driven and goal-directed life, I feel like I have no idea what I actually want to do.

Ultimately, I need to sit down over the course of several months, and really think about what my perfect day actually consists of.  And then, to be utterly cliche, go for it!

Intimidating Jobs

What defines a job so intimidating that members of the opposite sex actually run away when you mention it?  Or, what defines a job that is so sexy that members of the opposite sex actually think you're more attractive because you have it?

Once, a couple years ago, I was out at a bar with several of my friends.  One of the (male) friends of my friend came up to me and started a conversation.  It soon became apparent (even to clueless me) that he was flirting.  He was cute and I was game, so I started flirting back.  Then...he started asking me questions about what I do:

Him: What do you do for a living?
Me: Er...I'm a doctor.

(Doh! Strike One)

Him: What kind of doctor?
Me: Er...I'm a surgeon.

(The look of fear on his face was priceless)

Him: What kind of surgeon?
Me: (Major hesitation here) I'm a urologist.

Him: I would be SO intimidated to go out with you. (He says as he turns and literally runs away)

The guy could not get away from me any faster, and I have had many subsequent experiences that are eerily similar.  I still have too much pride to say that I'm anything other than I am.  I worked damn hard to get here and my job is a good weed-out process.  After all, I would never want to be with someone that insecure.

The other night, after an evening of drinks with friends, I hopped into a subway station and started to head home.  I ran into a couple guys who thought I was following them in the subway tunnel, and we started chatting because I love random conversations.  Eventually, it turned out that they were just getting ready to go out and invited me to join them for a drink. 

I hesitated.

Random dudes, random subway, big city.  They seemed genuine and nice, but don't all axe murderers?  They implored, but I still hesitated.  So, I asked them what they do for a living to stall.  Then they hesitated.  They didn't want to tell me what they did for a living because they thought I would be intimidated by what they do! 

Well, this certainly struck a chord with me.  I eventually got them to tell me what they do--they were firefighters.  The guys were worried that I would only like them because they were firefighters, because what girl doesn't want to date a firefighter, right?

I went out for a drink with them, and had a blast (no pun intended).  The best part?  They were so unimpressed with what I do for a living.  I guess if you're jumping out of burning buildings every day, being a surgeon is just a tad bit drab.