When the Client Is Male: Client-Provider Interaction from a Gender Perspective

Abstract

Providers who deal with male and female clients must be sensitive to gender roles and how they factor into client-provider interaction. Acknowledging their own tendencies to give greater status and attention to male clients is important if providers want to avoid shortchanging the female client in an interaction involving a couple. For the male client the modeling of respectful treatment of the female partner by the provider has the potential to influence the couple s relationship. Attention to gender equity in client-provider interactions is essential to ensuring that involving males adds value instead of posing an obstacle to improving women s and men s reproductive health. (excerpt)