Reconceptualizing gender in physician-patient relationships

In this paper, I propose that existing research on how women physicians relate to patients differently from men might benefit from a reconceptualization of gender. Toward this end, I present an ethnomethodological perspective on gender as an accomplishment and show how it contrasts with conventional perspectives on 'sex differences' and 'sex roles'. I review results of existing research on women and men physicians' relationships with their patients, highlighting the inadequacies of conventional perspectives to address this topic. Finally, I recast results of my own research on 'doctors' orders' in an effort to illustrate the utility of this perspective to research on gender's effects on the physician-patient relationship.