Female Physician

Went to my doctor today. She works out of a local clinic. Outside the clinic is, as always, a big sandwich board announcing “FEMALE PHYSICIAN WITHIN.” It was there before she joined the clinic. It is even visible in Google Maps. When the previous doctor left, they apparently made a point of finding another woman. It seems to be a part of their business model.

This brings up several issues. To begin with, this signboard should be illegal under anti-discrimination legislation. How would it be if the sign read, instead, “MALE PHYSICIAN,” or “WHITE PHYSICIAN”?

Secondly, the clinic and the doctor obviously put out the sign because they think “female” is a selling point. This pretty much proves that there is no systemic discrimination against women in our society; the discrimination is against men.

Putting these two together illustrates that anti-discrimination laws never help those who are really discriminated against. Should they protect any genuinely systemically oppressed group, they are not enforced. They are only enforced when they work in favour of some already favoured group. Accordingly, they only serve to increase the general level of discrimination.

You cannot fight discrimination through the law.