Significance in the increase of women psychiatrists in Korea.
The number of female doctors has increased in Korea; 18.9% (13,083) of the total medical doctors registered (69,097) were women in 2006, compared to 13.6% (2,216) in 1975. The proportion of female doctors will jump up by 2010 considering that nearly 40% of the medical students are women as of today. This trend has had strong influence on the field of psychiatry; the percentage of women psychiatrists rose from 1.6 (6)% to 18% (453), from 1975 to 2006 and now women residents comprise 39% (206) of all. This is not only a reflection of a social phenomenon of the increase in professional women but also attributed to some specific characteristics of the psychiatry. Psychiatric practice may come more natural to women. While clinical activities of women psychiatrists are expanding, there are few women leaders and much less women are involving in academic activities in this field as yet. Though there is less sexual discrimination in the field of psychiatry, women psychiatrists are still having a lot of difficulties in balancing work and family matters. Many women psychiatrists also report they've ever felt an implied discrimination in their careers. In this study, we are to identify the characteristics of women psychiatrists and to explore the significance of the increase in women psychiatrists in Korea and the situation in which they are.
Kim
Ha Kyoung
HK
Psycho-Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, Kyonggi, Korea.
Kim
Soo In
SI
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011287:Prejudice; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires