Woman in the Surgeon's Body

Joan Cassell is a Research Associate in Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, and the author of Expected Miracles: Surgeons at Work.

• * What's an Anthropologist Doing Studying Surgeons? * Bodies of Difference * Telling Stories * Women Leading * Forging the Iron Surgeon * The Gender of Care * A Greedy Institution * A Worst-Case Scenario * Surgeons in This Day and Age * Notes * References * Index

This [is a] riveting study on women surgeons in the United States...The author studied 33 women surgeons of differing ages practising in eastern and mid-western United States. There was a wide representation of career stages and surgical subspecialties. She spent five days spread over a two week period shadowing each surgeon and also conducted structured, tape recorded interviews. She observed relationships with colleagues, patients, nurses, and trainees as well as aspects of family life. The aim of her study was to examine differences between male and female surgeons and the internal and external forces affecting these differences. Each chapter examines a key area and is vividly illustrated with extracts from the taped interviews as well as descriptions and analysis provided by the author. The frantic, fast paced, almost hysterical way of life in an American department of surgery provides an enthralling background. The author sensibly lets the interviewees speak for themselves when she wishes to make a point...I hope that this excellent book is widely read.