I recently became a first time father...we had a son.
However back before we found out the sex of the baby I was amazed how when I told people "I'm gonna be a father" they almost always assumed I was having a son and say things like "Oh so you found out its a boy...you dont wanna keep it a surprise?"
However if I said "Guess what Mrs Pickawinna is pregnant" then they would ask "oh do you know if its a boy or girl?"
My point is that riddle only works because the word father is used so much. If you reworded it I think people would get it straight away.
Therefore I think it has nothing to do with people thinking that only men could be surgeons!!!!
