Smirnova, V. E. Shortcomings of Professional Segregation: Gender Peculiarities of Choosing the Major in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract: The author of the article describes factors influencing the formation of professional identity. These factors include individual psychological features, inner socially important motives, succession of professions within a family, high payment rate and prestige of a profession. The author of the article establishes a hypothesis that there are certain motivates of males and females choosing to be obstetrician-gynaecologist and urologist respectively. The author also lists different conceptions of professional development and defines physiological features of male or female as a factor of formation of diametric gender interests, orientations and preferences. It is concluded no matter what profession a male has, it does not influence his sex behavior. The author analyzes the theory of psychosexual development of personality and elements of the ethological paradigm. The author of the article also describes the role of the collective unconscious and overall male polygamy as factors allowing young male doctors to choose “female” profession. At the end of the article the author provides a full list of circumstances influencing the formation of professional identity of medical students.

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