Recently interviewed by a writer, I was asked about my reaction to a number of male medical leaders who said, “More women than ever are becoming surgeons. Gender discrimination is a thing of the past and it is time to stop talking about this topic.”
Speechless, I answered with silence. What is there to say when a problem that has had increasing press, continues to be denied by powerful men in medicine? Two persuasive papers came out in the last 18 months. One showed an average gap at the start of nearly $17,000 for women physicians and the other showed mid-career women with a $12,000 gap. ALL other variables were controlled for.
So instead I think you will find some answers in this very simple experiment. You don’t have to be a genius, or even a monkey.
Hopefully, our leaders will open their eyes wide and see what negative effects there are of what has been proven again and again. Men and women are not given the same resources to do the same jobs in medicine. The negative effects are costly to the individual and to society. It just makes me want to throw something. How about you?
2 Comments
Maybe it’s because they really think women should stay at home in the kitchen where they can remain barefoot and pregnant. That would dovetail nicely into the new strategies for denying women access to health care while curtailing reproductive rights and the availability of family planning.
Sounds like a plan to me.
Yes, some of them do think that, I am sure.
But most just get away with whatever they think they can get away with, and it is our job to stop them. Too many women who think themselves enlightened give away the bank and don’t even know it.
thanks for the comment! Always appreciated.