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Establishing specialty jurisdictions in medicine: the case of American obstetrics and gynaecology
Author(s) -
Zetka Jr. James R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2011.01341.x
Subject(s) - subspecialty , specialty , medicine , obstetrics and gynaecology , gynecology , family medicine , obstetrics , medical education , pregnancy , genetics , biology
The profession of medicine has evolved into an extremely specialised occupation. Yet, recent research has neglected the intra‐occupational processes influencing medical specialisation. This article aims to correct this oversight. It develops an historical account of intra‐occupational factors influencing the decision to establish gynaecologic oncology as American ob/gyn’s surgical subspecialty in 1972. Working within the framework initially developed by Everett C. Hughes and his students, the article examines this development as the outcome of a three‐party relationship among gynaecologic oncologists, American ob/gyns, and gynaecologic pelvic surgeons. Aggressive movement by the gynaecologic pelvic surgeons challenging the established élite’s identity definition for the ob/gyn specialty helped spur official recognition of gynaecologic oncology, a less threatening subspecialty. The article draws theoretical implications from the case regarding the role of a threatening other in influencing the specialisation process.