Friday . September 20 . 2002 . 4:30pm |
dr. au Though I never intended to change my name when I got married, things get a little complicated when you're planning to be a pediatrician and your maiden surname is "Au." That's pronounced "Ow." Doctor Au. The doctor of pain. I'm not a doctor yet, so I've never introduced myself as Dr. Au--usually I just go with my full name, first and last, no title--but sometimes people just assume that I have my MD and call me Dr. Au anyway. ATTENDING (To me) How do you say your name? MICHELLE Michelle. ATTENDING No, your last name. MICHELLE Oh. It's Au. ATTENDING (To patient and parent) And now Dr. Au is going to examine you, and talk to you for a few minutes about your treatment plan. PARENT Doctor...what was that? Ow? MICHELLE (Showing parent the name tag) Yes. Au. PARENT Ow? MICHELLE It's Chinese. PARENT Your name is Dr. Ow? (Then, if s/he happens to be a goofster, the parent will mime pain.) Ow! That's when you're giving shots, right? Ow! MICHELLE (As though she's never heard that joke before) Oh, ha ha, how droll. When you're going to be a doctor, or really any professional, changing your name from that which appears on your diplomas and eventual license is something of a pain, but not impossible. People do it, obviously. But it's still a pain. (Ow!) But that's not the only reason that I never intended to change my name when I got married. I just never agreed with that custom. Sure, I realize that almost everyone does it, and it's nice to signify a family unit by having everyone share the same last name, but I just don't agree with the ideology behind the tradition. I don't understand why it's always the woman who's expected change her name. I'm no raging feminist, and I'm not all like, "marriage is slavery" or anything like that, but I just don't really get the idea of perpetuating customs that don't make any sense to me, just because everyone else does it. I'm having second thoughts, though. Dr. Ow. Sounds pretty scary. Maybe it would be better to be Dr. [Joe's last name]. But I just feel like I don't want to have worked this hard for so many years to not be able to practice professionally under my own name. It might sound kind of silly, but that's how I feel. Michelle Au earned the medical degree, so Michelle Au will use it. Maybe I'll have two alter egos, like Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde. I'll be Dr. Michelle when I'm doing the nice stuff, and Dr. Au when I'm doing scary procedures. Kid will come into my office praying that they'll only have to see Dr. Michelle, and that Dr. Au, with all her needles and pointy things, will stay away for the day. xo Michelle |
