How Working at a School of Medicine Has Increased My Sexual Capital

Let’s talk about a surprising side effect of my career: working at a school of medicine has definitely boosted my sexual capital. And no, I’m not talking about adopting some mystical new skincare routine or a sudden influx of lab coats in my wardrobe. No, I’m talking about the social capital glow-up that comes with the seemingly magical words: “I work at the School of Medicine.”

Picture this: I’m at a party, and someone asks that inevitable small-talk question: “So, what do you do?” Now, when I used to answer with, “I’m a sociologist,” I’d get polite nods and a quick change of topic. You know, to the weather or last night’s sports game. But now? Now I casually drop, “I’m a sociologist at the School of Medicine.” Suddenly, I’m surrounded by people asking questions like, “What’s it like to work with doctors?” and “You must be doing some really important research!” My sexual capital is skyrocketing.

It’s as if just by proximity to medical professionals, I’ve inherited a slice of their intellectual allure. In their eyes, I’ve become a fascinating scholar who somehow bridges the worlds of science, medicine, and social insight. It doesn’t matter that my actual work involves a lot of analyzing social structures and not a single scalpel or stethoscope. In the public imagination, the mere mention of the “School of Medicine” grants me a status bump akin to a VIP pass at an exclusive club.

The White Coat Effect

Then, there’s what I like to call the “White Coat Effect.” While I don’t wear one myself, simply working alongside people who do seems to bestow me with a certain academic sexiness. I might be sitting in a meeting talking about health inequities and social determinants, but I’m getting the street cred of someone who knows their way around an anatomy chart.

And let’s not forget the appeal of being different in this environment. Most people expect someone at a school of medicine to be a physician, a biochemist, or at the very least, someone with an intimidating title like “Clinical Researcher in Cardiovascular Something-or-Other.” But me? I stroll in with my sociologist badge, bringing theories and frameworks that sound exotic to my med school colleagues. It’s like being the one jazz musician in a room full of classical violinists—suddenly, my unconventional vibe is...intriguing.

The “Interdisciplinary” Allure

Oh, and don’t even get me started on how the word interdisciplinary gets people’s attention. When I explain that I bring a sociological perspective to disability, you’d think I’ve just invented a new type of medical device. People are fascinated by the idea that you can study things like social inequalities, health outcomes, and patient-doctor dynamics. My conversations at dinner parties now come with a sparkle of mystery. I mean, who knew sociology could sound so...sexy?

In the Classroom and Beyond

Even my teaching feels like it’s received a glow-up. When I mention that I lecture at a School of Medicine, I can almost see people picturing me in a grand lecture hall, surrounded by future doctors hanging on my every word. Never mind that half of my classes involve discussions about structural inequities and critical disability studies—it’s the context that matters, darling. 

The Reality Check

Of course, let’s not get carried away here. My day-to-day life still involves piles of reading, hours of writing, and staring at complex data sets. But in the eyes of others, working at a school of medicine has somehow sprinkled my academic identity with an extra dash of allure. I’m still the same sociologist who spends more time thinking about power structures than prescription drugs, but the phrase “School of Medicine” gives me a little boost in the social (and sexual) capital department.

So, while I’m not out there wielding scalpels or prescribing meds, I’m apparently now that sociologist—the one who works at a School of Medicine. And let’s be honest, it does apparently make me a bit cooler. Who knew that a change in academic scenery could increase my capital in the wild social marketplace of academia?

Final Thoughts

So, here’s to the accidental allure of working at a School of Medicine. I might still be buried in theories and social critiques, but at least now I’ve got a bit of that medical school glow. It’s a strange world we live in, but hey, I’ll take that extra sexual capital any day. Now, who wants to hear about my latest research on health disparities? I promise, it’s fascinating...