Dooley Noted: 9/5/15
I work in male-dominated fields.
Male anatomists had so much hubris in the past that they would actually name existing structures after themselves.
In chiropractic, it’s a very physical field. It takes a strong woman with proper biomechanics to adjust a 300-pound male, especially if she is small in stature.
So, we often get overlooked for male chiropractors.
As an educator in human movement, there are very few female presenters when compared to the males.
I know why.
Strong women are often seen as barracudas.
We even get referred to as “masculine,” if we have a hint of power – or bicep definition.
These career-driven women must elbow their way to the front just to be heard.
My biggest life goal is to pave the way to break barriers for powerful females.
Because I’ve had male and female mentors who believed in me, I have been able to pave the way to a career I never thought possible.
This takes strength, persistence, and fortitude.
You have to believe you can create things that don’t exist.
This is the strength people have that they don’t always realize.
Girls, we don’t have as much testosterone as the men. But we were built to carry, pass, then nurture children.
We don’t have as much cross-sectional area of muscle, on average. It may take more effort for us to do the same tasks at the same weight.
We have been taught it’s masculine to crave power. We are taught in fairy tales to wait for our knights in shining armor.
We are not damsels in distress, waiting to be saved.
Even when I when I was a little girl, I had questions about those fairy tales.
I asked my mother, “But why doesn’t Rapunzel climb down her own hair?”
Where were the girls who were saving themselves?
We were coached at a young age to crave marriage, not seek our own strength and independence.
Little Dooley and Grown-Up Dooley both won’t have it.
I don’t have a child, but I am aunt to several girls. I am an educator of thousands of females. And I have the honor of treating my share of female patients.
I still believe in the power of a strong woman to mutually enhance every person she crosses – including the men.
You may be hiding some of your strength behind the thoughts that you aren’t strong.
But you are.
It’s inherent to you.
And strength is more satisfying than any fairy tale I’ve heard.
Embrace your strength, my damsels.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
