So, are people more likely to discount someone's pain if the person is a woman?

I think this has actually been proved with some studies. Pain management is an interesting subject in the medical world. From hanging around with medical students in my youth, I can vouch that a doctor's perspective on pain is a bit dismissive. Also, they have their own scale of what's really painful and most of us are unlikely to have an injury or condition or receive a treatment that's going to ping a doctor's top ten. I do remember my ex (one of the medical students) saying it was instructive to get an IV again and remember, "Oh yeah. Those are uncomfortable."

But I think things have gotten better. Certainly access to trigger morphine type devices have had a big impact.

So, are people more likely to discount someone's pain if the person is a woman?

Yeah, and I believe there have been studies about it. I mean, we can't even handle cramps without complaining, right? No matter how debilitating that pain actually is.

I usually wait until I'm in "feels like someone's stabbing me with a hot knife" pain, and I know it's partly because of all those patronizing doctors and dentists I've had over the years.

Yes. Women complain about every little thing, didn't you know? Unlike men, who are naturally inclined to handle even the most intense pain with dignified stoicism.

Its amazing how that notion survives since women, you know, give birth.

Allyson, won't anyone with a car be home before you're in the murder-stage of a nic-fit?

So, are people more likely to discount someone's pain if the person is a woman?

I was asked, by a labor and delivery nurse, why I was crying, when I was in the transition stage of labor.

I didn't kill her.

I'm still waiting for a monument to be erected in my honor.

So, are people more likely to discount someone's pain if the person is a woman?

I think this has actually been proved with some studies. Pain management is an interesting subject in the medical world.

Which is interesting, because hasn't it also been proven that women have a higher tolerance for pain than men?

For me, personally, I know that I'm highly sensitive to pain, but I can endure a hell of a lot and will only go to the doctor if it is truly debilitating. (I remember the dentist who did my root canal after the accident looking at the root, asking me again what the pain level was, and when I said 8, he said most people would characterize the level of inflammation at a 12.)

Which is interesting, because hasn't it also been proven that women have a higher tolerance for pain than men?

I think so....

Happy Birthday, Jesse and Theodosia!

I know one of the reasons I stay with my current doctor is that when I say I'm in pain, she believes me, instantly. It's funny that most of the doctors I've had who were the most dismissive of my pain were women. So, I was really glad to find one who wasn't.

It's like personal trainers telling me "no! just one more!" Fuck off. I stopped because I'm done. I cannot be bargained with. Not by you.

On the other hand, the friend who I will let put me in paroxysms of pain stops when I tell him to, and doesn't lie (PT cousin said she wouldn't touch it again, but made a couple more grabs for it that evening). He knows he's manipulating my finger because I, who squashed it flat myself, can't voluntarily cause myself that much pain. But that the pain I caused myself, over dinner at a restaurant was the equivalent of spraining my finger myself.

I tried to explain that to the PT--reminding her exactly what was happening--that she was roughly manipulating a freshly sprained finger, but nothing.

I'd been mostly silent about it, just mentioning pain every now and again. Finally I decided to stop pretending for five minutes and cursed and made faces and the like. Boy, did I get weird looks. Then I put the front back on and went back to eating. And stealing mimosas.

While said cousin was manipulating the finger I told her I really wanted to punch her for the pain she was causing me. "Do it," she said. "Where?" "Anywhere."

At which point I promptly couldn't. The correct answer, by someone who has been hit is "in the stomach." Since I could perform a soft technique (ie taking back my hand), I would have dishonoured myself by breaking her nose like I really wanted to. Over expensive brunch. In front of her aged mother.

Which is interesting, because hasn't it also been proven that women have a higher tolerance for pain than men?

Actually, no. The research I've seen on that subject indicated the opposite, though of course women have to put up with far more pain as part of the normal course of life without there actually being anything medically wrong.

Men seem to be under a lot more societal pressure to ignore pain and be all manly when dealing with strangers (and I include doctors and nurses in this category). But I think we're also encouraged to whine and be nurtured at home, whereas Mom or the nearest Mom substitute is expected to take care of everyone else while ignoring any discomfort or manageable pain of her own.

Who amongst you would take her?

Kuma?

My day at work thus far:

Read e-mail
Got coffee
Read internets
Played Bejeweled
Got coffee
Smoked a cigarette
Got breakfast
Answered an email
Read internets Answered a phone call (Minion)
Smoked
Got coffee (decaf)
Filled out timesheet from three weeks ago
Read internets

Now what? More coffee? Another cigarette? I haven't done any window gazing yet - maybe I'll tackle that next.