source : the age
” src=”https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/6ee13b474c02da96bf54c70eb4d7ffb35c27dd60″ height=”390″ width=”584″ srcset=”https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/6ee13b474c02da96bf54c70eb4d7ffb35c27dd60, https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/6ee13b474c02da96bf54c70eb4d7ffb35c27dd60 2x”>
Credit: Illustration: Badiucao
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
MEDICAL MISOGYNY
I applaud The Age reporters, Kate Aubusson, Aisha Dow and Emily Kaine for exposing the systemic medical misogyny that women continue to endure. The stories shared were not only deeply troubling, but sadly, all too familiar for far too many of us.
I have experienced this treatment firsthand while suffering from what turned out to be endometriosis. After two weeks in hospital and years of debilitating symptoms, a female gynaecologist advised me to “walk 10,000 steps a day and take some vitamin D”. My GP (female) at the time refused to write a referral, outright dismissing my pain. And my obstetrician (male) sent me for an MRI for excruciating back pain, confidently assuring me my symptoms couldn’t be caused by endo.
It was only through the intervention of a friend, a physician, who referred me to another specialist in women’s health that I was finally taken seriously and diagnosed. Without her, I’d still be suffering without answers. This is not rare and is not acceptable. Women are being routinely dismissed, misdiagnosed, and left to navigate a broken system that refuses to believe them. We need serious investment in women’s health and a cultural shift in medicine: believe us when we speak about our bodies. We are not imagining it.
Julia Lippold, Armadale
Poor behaviour among medicos
The emergence of a confronting video showing a surgeon defacing political signage coinciding with the revelations of medical misogyny bring into stark relief just how entrenched misogynistic behaviour is across all levels of society.
In 2015, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons came under fire following claims of discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment and in response to a report, subsequently, issued guidelines for reporting and managing such behaviours. We await the college’s reaction as well as the health establishment in general to the surgeon involved in this outrageous behaviour.
As an accomplished paediatric rheumatologist, Dr Monique Ryan would be no stranger to the perils of traversing the poor behaviour so frequently exhibited by some members of the medical profession.
If there is an upside to this horrific outburst by a fellow medical professional, Dr Ryan would be “match fit”, along with her many other qualities, to continue to represent the electorate of Kooyong in the Australian parliament.
Anne Lyon, Camberwell
Women deserve better from men
The video footage of Adjunct Professor Greg Malham promoting providing tutorial advice to ‘the boys’ on how to ‘bury the body’ is appalling. Equally appalling, is the laughter of the woman, assumed to be recording, in response to his vile behaviour.
Stick to being a surgeon Mr Malham, as a comedian your ‘intended joke’ isn’t funny, nor is it ‘a silly thing to do’.
Do better men, call out violence against women and children, your mother, your sister, your partner, your daughter and the women and girls in your life deserve better.
Caryn Auld, Point Cook
Respect the other half of the population
We read of the injustices meted out to women by doctors poorly trained and lacking in compassion (18/4). Terrible injustices that have led to terrible consequences. And the same day, we read ″Uncovering our tracks″, which takes us on a tour of Melbourne pointing out how women have shaped our history, yet often have not had their contributions recognised. Surely, it is time that half the world’s population is properly acknowledged, respected and applauded.
Miriam Gould, Malvern
Sufferers, not suffering ″victimhood″
Re Letters, ″Absurd classification″, 20/4. No, not all responses to questions to those suffering from any intimidation or violence, come necessarily from a “prism of ″victimhood”, nor are they all “obligingly answered”. Many are genuine queries from sufferers, not victims, and many replies are far from “obliging″.
Teresa Martin-Lim, Brighton
Not so prejudiced
“Deadly impact of misogyny in medicine” (18/4) argues that Australia’s medical profession is prejudiced against women. No mention that we have two screening programs for women (cervical and breast cancers), hospitals for women (eg. Royal Women’s), specialties for women (obstetrics, gynaecology) with no equivalent screening programs, hospitals, or specialties for men; no mention that life expectancy for women in Australia is 85 years, versus 81 years for men.
Another article in the same edition argues for better Medicare funding of longer consultations because many women doctors have largely female clientele, and thus need to spend more time with them, on the grounds that their medical needs are more complex.
Could not this complexity explain some of the difficulty in diagnosing in female patients, rather than misogyny?
The women who “shared their experiences” with The Age did so in response to a public callout. If The Age were to do a similar public callout for men who’d had delayed diagnoses or felt they’d been poorly treated, and got a large number of responses, would this then prove misandry in the medical profession? Then, The Age could conclude that doctors are actually prejudiced against almost everybody. In other words, we’re just a bad lot. Or maybe, medicine’s just a really hard profession!
Dr Johnny Hackett, Wonthaggi
Misogyny is wrong word
As a retired (female) medical oncologist I have taken an interest in the ‘medical misogyny’ articles that have been published in recent months, most recently the article “Never taken seriously’: Jenny says doctors dismissed her concerns for years. Now she is dying”, (18/4).
Whilst it is becoming clearer that women’s health issues are less well understood than men’s, with a good level of evidence demonstrating resultant poorer outcomes for women, to label this ‘Medical Misogyny’ is deeply offensive to medical practitioners. With misogyny defined as “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women”, the use of this word implies intentional malice.
I posit that the large majority of the medical profession do not possess this attitude, and for this criticism to be levelled at hardworking and caring people by the Media is unacceptable. Not only does it engender fault and blame, it is also counterproductive to valuable efforts to improve the situation for women. Blaming and insulting doctors in this way is hardly a recipe to engage them in the change required to make progress in this arena. Associate Professor Jacquie Chirgwin, Templestowe
Misinterpreted, not misogynist
I do not know Greg Malham and I certainly do not condone his foolish actions. But to say they are “chilling” and “misogynistic” is overdramatic and very wrong. No one was hurt from these silly action videos. They clearly appear to have been misinterpreted (a familiar scenario for a highly intellectual and creative comedic mind) instead of seen as a mockery and pertinent statement for what is actually going on in our very messed up society.
Vicki Williams, Melbourne
A woman’s ″lot″
Re Letters, ″Absurd classification″, 20/4. If you have never lived your life as a woman you cannot possibly understand – and this is the heart of the problem.
During an ″average woman’s″ life, she will experience many of the following; accused of being hysterical or pre-menstrual, followed in dark car parks, groped on public transport or in the office, being labelled as a ″female driver″, verbally propositioned by anonymous workmen, physically hurt or intimidated by men who don’t take no for an answer, morally judged by what clothes she wears, patronised by older males in authority, told her physical symptoms are all in her head, or just a ″woman’s lot in life″.
Clearly, the fact that many males still disregard, or do not believe, the frequency and seriousness of our experiences is why these issues will continue to occur.
Julie Christensen, Blackburn Nth
Disinterest, duly noted
As a carer for my wife and daughter who both live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), the article “It’s all in your head” hit close to home. For people with ME/CFS, a condition that disproportionately affects women, being told “It’s all in your head” is part of daily life.
This week, marks the second anniversary of the federal government’s Long Covid report. Buried in the report is ‘Recommendation 8’ which called for more research and support for ME/CFS. The government’s official response? A big, fat “Noted”.
In my marginal seat of Chisholm, only the Greens have released a national policy supporting ME/CFS. Independent Kath Davies backs it too. The major parties? Silence.
The ME/CFS community’s response to decades of medical misogyny, and a government that casually filed away its own report? Noted.
Peter McCluskey, Malvern East
THE FORUM
Time to pay teachers
In our street in Manly in the 1940s with its barber, banker, priest, bus driver, and small business owners, a young primary school teacher who lived two doors down was the ‘prince’ according to my status-obsessed grandmother, who believed teachers were the most important in our community because they educated our “precious innocent children”.
In the 1950s, the rot started to set in with the rise of rabid anti-communism when “intellectuals” – writers, teachers, journalists, anybody with a university degree – was suspected of being sympathetic to communism, if not a “red”, and a danger to “the Australian way of life”.
In the 1960s, came funding for private schools introduced by the Liberal prime minister Robert Menzies and the beginning of the mindset that you get what you pay for.
In 2025, when most relationships within and between countries are transactional, with the most powerful world leader whose mantra is “what’s in it for me?” Do we expect teachers to be divorced from this world and live in a fairyland of abnegation and sacrifice?
With the Gonski reforms of 14 years ago still not introduced, teachers are right to be outraged. A month walkout of government teachers is needed to bring home their significance to our community’s well being. It’s time for us to pay up.
Ian Muldoon, St Kilda
Labor wanes
Yes, we are nearing the end of the Labor era in Victoria (″The Allan key″, 20/4) as many of us far prefer the independents and teals. They’re competent, experienced people who’ve run things, listen to their electorates, and who will take proper action on climate change and finances for our collective future, not bankrupt us.
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
Avoid party puppets
This is a very vital election for all Australians. Let’s not make it mediocre in our choice of candidates. Instead of focusing on political promises which can be abandoned after the election, the best outcome would be to carefully examine the quality of character and experience of candidates you select.
Do they listen to your concerns, and would they advocate for better outcomes on vital issues – or would they just follow party policies? Slick media campaigns with politicians taking selfies at every opportunity and being directed by spin doctors do not guarantee an authentic choice. We need more courageous politicians responding well to Australia and the changing world order – not puppets.
Christine Baker, Rosanna
Beyond Palmer’s ads
I congratulate Clive Palmer for donating 10 million meals to struggling Australians, but what else is he doing for Australians doing it tough? Is he paying his fair share of taxes, and encouraging other billionaires to do the same? Is he advocating for a fair royalty on exported minerals and natural gas? Is he using his influence to mitigate the effects of climate change?
So far, all I’ve seen in his ads is a desire to reduce immigration (but not why) and his comments about the Australian flag and welcome to country –bland statements designed to stir up discontent. He’d need to suggest real inroads into real issues before I would consider voting for his party.
John Pinniger, Fairfield
Equal coverage
Political leaders are galivanting around the country to drip-feed policies and provide stunts and snippets for the nightly news with a ready-made press corps in tow, and to what expense? They could say the same things broadcasting from home. There is one candidate standing in my electorate who I can find precious little info about on the internet. True democracy would be if all candidates on the ballot had equal coverage.
Christine Hinton, Glen Huntly
Not tagging, bullying
The AFL is to be congratulated on its commitment to stamp out racism, homophobia and sexism. Bullying should be next.
A tagger is intended to mark and restrict an opponent’s impact on the game. In days gone by, it meant sticking close, blocking, punching. No-longer it seems. Now it passes as blatant physically intimidation, irrespective of whether your opponent is anywhere near the ball, but with no apparent penalty.
The treatment of Collingwood’s Nick Daicos on Thursday evening is a case in point. An exceptional athlete, he seems to have the mental and physical toughness to regularly withstand this ‘attention’ but there are plenty of talented players who surely don’t possess that inner strength.
A role model he is, but so too are the perpetrators – but models for bad sportsmanship. The AFL should call this what it is – bullying. Stamp it out now.
Greg Holland, Hughes, ACT
AND ANOTHER THING
Medical misogyny
At almost 94, I’ve had an experienced woman doctor treating me with care and respect for almost 20 years. If she’s too busy, I see a young male doctor.
I trust them both with my life (literally) because if they cannot fix a problem, they send me to someone who can. Myra Fisher Brighton East
One must accept the reality that some doctors failed Bedside Manner 101 during their medical studies.
Ian Powell, Glen Waverley
Re the surgeon under investigation over ″chilling″ video of him tearing down ″teal’s corflute″. As Paul Keating said: “He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up”.
Kevan Richards, Mt Helen
Politics
Clive Palmer trumpeted in this masthead Saturday that another 10,000 Australians became homeless last month. Perhaps Clive could reflect on whether or not he needs all of his 17 registered properties.
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW
I will be favourably disposed towards any politician who can succeed in putting the ″n″ back into ″goverment″ during this election campaign.
Terry Harrison, Mt Waverley
To Trump and his self-serving acolytes, government workers are a cost. To Democrats, they are an indispensable instrument of civilisation.
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
Americans seemed to have been spared from mass shootings for a brief moment in the wake of the Trump turmoil. Alas, it’s back to business as usual.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol
Furthermore
Three matches on Saturday and none viewable on free TV. Disgusting.
Saturday of all days!
Julie Kidd, Bunyip
How disappointing there are no Easter films on TV this weekend. I was so looking forward to Ben Hur, The Robe, The life of Brian, Barabbas, and so many other deeply religious films of my youth.
James Lane, Hampton East
The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
