title: Women in surgery in Scotland. A Working Party of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
abstract: Despite the fact that 50% of medical undergraduates are female, women comprise fewer than 1% of consultant general surgeons. The possible reasons for this were addressed by a working party of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, which now reports the results of a survey of 35 women surgeons of SHO 3 grade and above working in Scotland. Findings were compared with those of 12 anaesthetists and 10 house officers. Surgeons had had an accurate perception of the work patterns their job would entail but no preparation for the lifestyle implications. The experience of gender discrimination was similar in all three groups but perceived discrimination was much more prevalent among surgeons/ophthalmologists. In contrast to the other groups surveyed, the surgical cohort was not deterred by training length, but rather discouraged by the lack of responsibility offered. Other factors which seem to contribute to the underrepresentation of women among surgeons may be the lack (1) of time for child rearing and (2) of same-sex role models.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cudworth
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008019:Life Style; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland; D013038:Specialization; D000078329:Workforce