Political self-characterization of US women physicians

Abstract

The political self-characterization of US physicians, especially including women physicians, has been poorly described. We used data from the 4,501 respondents to the Women Physicians' Health Study (WPHS), a stratified random sample of US women M.D.s surveyed in 1993–1994, to assess US women physicians' political characteristics. US women physicians were most likely to consider themselves politically moderate (36.6% of respondents). More considered themselves liberal (28.4%) or very liberal (8.8%) than considered themselves conservative (20.5%) or very conservative (5.8%). US women physicians predominantly bring moderate and liberal voices to political discourse. Organizations that wish to attract US women physician members should consider promoting less conservative policies.