Careers for women in paediatrics

Abstract

In 1991 51.7% of medical entrants’ were women compared with nearly 25% in 1960’. As seniority increases, the proportion of women drops off steadily to a variable extent in all specialties. Paediatrics is no exception. Although it is one of the more popular specialties for women, men are still more likely to reach consultant posts. However, despite the fact that hospital paediatrics is one of the most demanding specialties in terms of workload and working hours at junior and senior level, gender differences in career opportunities appear to be much less in paediatrics than in many other specialties.*v3 Of major concern for the future is the waning popularity of a career in general paediatrics and the present inadequate supply of paediatricians at registrar and senior registrar level to fuel consultant expansion. Urgent efforts are required to improve the quality of life at all levels in paediatrics and to enable both men and women to combine a career in paediatrics with home and family life.