Female role models in medicine: a medical student’s perspective
The importance of role models in medical education cannot be understated. They allow for professional development, aid in career motivation and inspire and educate through example. Unfortunately, I cannot admit knowing more than three female role models throughout my time at medical school, an...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2018-01-01
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Series: | Journal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://jamp.sums.ac.ir/index.php/JAMP/article/view/927 |
Summary: | The importance of role models in medical
education cannot be understated. They
allow for professional development, aid in career
motivation and inspire and educate through
example. Unfortunately, I cannot admit knowing
more than three female role models throughout
my time at medical school, and now as a final
year student, I am more disappointed than ever
for this deficit.
My admiration and respect for doctors
remains sky high, but from the age of 15, I
remember being put off and discouraged from
a career in medicine. My first work experience
placement was met with disgruntled medical
students and doctors warning me to ‘steer clear’
of this career choice. Notably, female doctors
would state their reservations about whether they
could adequately bring up a stable family together
with the demands of this profession. This was
an extremely frustrating resolution for me to see
as a young, inspired medic- who passionately
felt I would work hard to do both. I sought to
find out more about the challenges for women
in medicine.
There lies no dispute that having a stable
family life and successful career is no easy feat
for women. Yet, the mere choice between a family
and/or career is far more intricate than it may
seem; it is really a question exploring personal
life priorities, resolute character traits and, most
importantly, equal gender opportunities and the
necessity for greater support for women with
families (1).
Gender equity and empowerment are
inextricably linked to a woman’s entitlement
and contribution to the workplace. Evidently, the
endless unpaid hours of bringing up a family need
greater recognition- arguably a full time job in
itself; some people still don’t deem the demanding
work of a mother as a career- illustrated by
Catherine Deveny’s Guardian article (2).
Women are often invited to defend their life
choices, or fulfil gender expectations. Maybe,
as women we need to alter our own insight into
what it means to be a successful career woman
and mother. What defines doing ‘well’ when
describing family life, a subjective word for such
a prevalent aspiration.
The deplorable deluge of negative headlines
after the report from the Royal College of
Physicians (2009) stating women will predominate
the workforce in 2017 inflamed public perception
with assertions including, “Women docs weaken
medicine” (3). This was a shocking flavour of
negativism for women in medicine- and added
to both my curiosity and anger at the situation.
The apparent vulnerability of women is
particularly evident amongst certain geographical
populations; for example, in Iran, there are
palpable traditional differences between genders,
rendering unequal social rights, salaries and employment opportunities (4), with further
significance on health status. Article 158,
of the Third Development plan, instigated a
resolute initiative for increasing awareness
and incorporation of women in society, which
included the promotion of job opportunities
for women (5). Furthermore, accessibility of
advanced surgical training is highly limited,
with Dr Sakineh Pari, born in 1902, being the
first Iranian female surgeon (6). Despite the
evolution of greater gender equality in Iranian
medical employment, it is clear that we need
further progress towards true equality.
I want to pose a note of reflection: why do
these negative perceptions still exist even in
2017? We need to act now to ensure the women
of the future have confidence that they can both
cultivate a great family and career; it is possible,
with the appropriate communication, support and
flexibility that are essential to both motherhood
and top career posts, especially within countries
where gender inequalities are rife. |
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ISSN: | 2322-2220 2322-3561 |