Masculinity, gender stereotypes and doctor preference

When men are forced to choose between a male or female doctor, men overwhelming choose the male. Prior research implicates gender beliefs in exacerbating bias against women in many fields, including medicine. The current study explored potential mediators of the association between gender beliefs and (1) male doctor preference and (2) masculine trait preference. Male participants (N = 152) completed an online survey assessing beliefs about masculinity, traditional role beliefs, gender competence stereotypes, medical competence stereotypes, preference for masculine doctor traits, and preference for male doctors. I hypothesized masculinity as a mediator of traditional role beliefs on male doctor preference (model 1) and masculine doctor traits (model 2). In the same model, respectively, I hypothesized competence stereotypes (gender and medical) as mediators of masculinity beliefs on male doctor preference (model 1) and masculine doctor traits (model 2). Results from structural equation modeling suggested medical competence stereotypes mediated the effect of gender beliefs (both traditional role beliefs and masculinity beliefs) on male doctor preference, but neither gender belief (traditional role beliefs and masculine gender belief) mediated the effect of the other gender belief on male doctor preference (i.e., traditional role beliefs did not mediate masculinity to male preference nor did masculinity mediate traditional role beliefs on male preference). Gender beliefs did not predict gender competence stereotypes and these stereotypes failed to predict male doctor preference. No significant predictors emerged for masculine trait preference. Implications for male doctor preference and men’s health are discussed.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Mary Suzanne Himmelstei