There is a considerable amount of tension between Julia and Dr. Valentine, why do you suppose they were so often in conflict? Have you ever experienced similar tension with a superior at work?
Created: 07/08/21
Replies: 15
Join Date: 10/15/10
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There is a considerable amount of tension between Julia and Dr. Valentine, why do you suppose they were so often in conflict? Have you ever experienced similar tension with a superior at work?
Join Date: 02/08/16
Posts: 537
Julia's position was certainly perceived as lower than that of a doctor. Dr. Valentine definitely had the position of power. Sometimes those in power don't want to acknowledge the truth or wisdom of those under them.
I had an employer who was very demeaning to me. I don't think Dr. Valentine was demeaning, but being put down leaves a mark.
Join Date: 11/14/11
Posts: 170
But of course. Dr. Valentine would never have listened to a woman. Consider it has been a mere 40 -50 years since women were truly included in the workplace. Additionally, more experienced folks have a hard time considering that a younger person would add value. I’ve had tension with numerous managers throughout my career. In most instances, however, I offered my thoughts and learned to concede that whoever has the most authority at the end of the day prevails.
Join Date: 06/19/12
Posts: 413
Dr. Valentine considered himself to be superior to Julia in both power and knowledge and did not see her as offering value. Julia thought she had much to offer in patient care situations, and wanted her opinions heard and valued. Conflict in such a situation is almost inevitable.
Join Date: 03/25/17
Posts: 190
Haven't we all had these people in our lives? In this case, doctors can often still seem to think they are better than the people around them, even or especially the nurses. In that era, that attitude was probably much more common; not only was she a nurse, but she was a woman.
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Dr. Valentine felt superior to Julia, he was the doctor and she was the nurse thus Julia should listen and follow his orders even if observations and methods were appropriate and correct plus save/and make lives more fulfilling. I do not think he wanted to listen to other doctors under his command also, after all he was in charge. I think women are listened to more now, at least in some fields. But for me it was largely ageism not sexism.
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Power struggles are very common in the workplace. Dr. Valentine wanted to keep those struggles to a place where he always won because he was male. In the 20s power struggles didn’t even require the distinction of education because women could not become doctors. Ideally power struggles should be decided by education and experience. Hopefully we are moving that direction.
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I believe that Dr. Valentine was threatened by Julia. To begin with women in that period of time did not hold 'lofty' positions, and Julia being a head nurse and as self confident as she was threatened Valentine's position. She knew almost as much as he did and he didn't like that.
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