Being a Woman Leader: Reimagining “Themyscira” in Child Psychiatry

Abstract

A mystical island shrouded in fog, invisible to the eye, a fortress of limitless potential hidden from the rest of the world. Themyscira is most well-known as being the home of Wonder Woman in the popular DC comics franchise. Child and adolescent psychiatry is a specialty that has a robust majority of women, but there are overall still significant gender disparities in academic rank and leadership positions in the field.2 As the legendary land of strong women, Themyscira is evocative of concepts of what distinctive leadership in psychiatry and medicine can stand for: guidance of others through motivation and inspiration (managing vs leading,) critical examinations of need for stability and need for evolution and change, support and advocacy (mentorship vs sponsorship,) maintaining integrity to the core values professionally and personally (core values,) and embracing an attitude of growth and empowerment through service (servant leadership.) We explore perspectives of each of these areas crucial to the development and fostering of leadership roles.