Male Medical Assistants

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Men in Medical Assisting

Historically, men have been discouraged to become medical assistants... more so than nurses! Nobody knows for sure what the numbers of men working in medical assisting actually are today, but from what we can tell it still remains remarkably low. 

Misconceptions About Men in Medical Assisting

Study after study demonstrates that misconceptions about men in the medical assistant profession still abound. A study held in June 2003 revealed that male students made up less than 10 percent in courses offering medical assisting training! Despite of their interest in the profession men have historically been discouraged and frequently denied access to medical assisting education and entry into the workforce.

Are Men Interested in Medical Assisting

Although when asked, men agree that they are very interested in becoming a medical assistant, when looking at the reality of it, one can only assume that men are not offered the same job opportunities as their female counter parts. Why is this so?

Weisy wrote this: No wonder so many can't find a job      Sep 15th, 2007 - 1:15 AM

"... my (medical assistant) externship was in a physical rehabilitation clinic. I worked the front desk, but my back office was conducted in giving pool therapy classes and assisting the physical therapists. I also have worked in cardiology, mental health, and in internal medicine (government facility). I'm considered to be a nursing assistant, not an MA. Still, no matter where I worked - I always gave it my best. It is all healthcare! I graduated at the age of 49 and I'm a male." -- Weisy
 

So, What's Going On?

It might be the lack of employer's awareness and acceptance of men in this field, and the notion that men who display caring attitudes toward sick and elderly people aren't real men that keeps the number of men in the medical assistant profession so low... Men often have a hard time finding other men willing to talk about working in care giving roles to find out whether this career is for them. The situation is perpetuated by highly feminized images and pictures in the media and in magazines showing almost always women in nursing and healthcare jobs.

Could It Be Deep Rooted Misconceptions? The persistence of misconceptions and cultural bias plays a big role. Not only employers have certain misconceptions about what a medical assistant should look like and men in scrubs, but also educators.

 

Could It Be Stereotypical and Sexist? Another reason why few men are found working in medical offices are false ideas about the role and function of men in a medical office. Employers believe that nursing and medical procedures best belong into the hands of a woman.

Could It Be Unequal Pay? Wages play another important role when jobs are being sought. Pay inequity may easily be another contributing factor for men shying away from the medical assisting career. Traditionally men are the main breadwinner of the family and so they need jobs that pay well. However, employers rarely pay more than what they must, and do not always offer additional benefits. Relatively low hourly wages for medical assistants and lack of benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, sick days, and group retirement plans are not attracting men in those positions.

Could It Be The Way Companies Hire? Each employer begins the selection of possible candidates with a well-established system of beliefs about what a medical assistant should look like. During the pre-employment interview it is the interviewer's deep rooted stereotypical misconceptions and concerns about the stigma of a man's suitability for the medical office environment which is hindering the male applicant's efforts when applying. And when you have a male healthcare provider heading a medical office the picture of a friendly smiling female welcoming patients is what they envision (sexism). Even most female healthcare providers running a medical office see it this way.

• Correcting Stereotypical Misconceptions
  
  Misconceptions and social taboos keep men out of the medical assistant profession. Accurate information about career training opportunities...
• Encouraging Male Medical Assistants
  
  It's probably easier to tell you what not to say to men that are interested in a medical assisting career. Don't say, it's so nice to have a man around...