Self-Reflection Exercise

Objectives > Self-Reflection Exercise

The questions and exercises in this module are designed to make you think and help you reflect on your ideas and how they may be affecting the care you provide to your patients. There are no right or wrong answers, nobody is evaluating you, we are only trying to stimulate thought and discussion.

Before you begin this module, please ask yourself the following questions and write your answers in the boxes provided below.

Once you enter your responses, you will be able to retrieve your answers at the end of the module and see where and how your ideas have changed.

1.	Does the way in which you approach a patient differ if you know they are female or male (e.g., the tone of your voice, the way you sit, the choice of word you use, etc...)?

2.	Do you treat babies differently if they are male or female? Do you think people should treat male and female babies differently (e.g., tone of voice, choice of toys, colour of clothing, etc...)?

3.	How do you feel if you’re not sure about someone’s sex? For example, if you can’t tell by their name before you meet them, or are unsure about their appearance?

4.	What are your attitudes towards same-sex relationships? Do you think that homosexuality is a moral decision? If so, is it a "right" or a "wrong" choice?

5.	How do gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, trans-sexual and/or intersexed people make you feel? Do you become uncomfortable/angry/fearful when you are around someone who identifies with a sexual preference different than your own? Are you indifferent towards those who have a different sexual preference than yourself? Do you welcome people from all sexual preference backgrounds?

6.	Do you expect to treat patients who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, trans-sexual and/or intersexed? If so, do you expect that you will treat them any different than your heterosexual patients?