Promoting Gender Equality in the Medical Profession: A Physician's Reflection on Her Experiences as a Medical Student

Abstract

The medical profession is committed to the protection and promotion of health and well-being of all persons, irrespective of their sex, cultural or social background. How ever, in this very profession the reinforcement of gender stereotypes, inequity and gender-based discrimination persist from the time of enrolment in medical school until the end of one's professional carrier. The following groups of factors have been identified as the impediment for women's advancement in medicine: reinforcement of traditional gender roles, sexism and lack of effective mentoring. Suggested strategies for overcoming these obstacles include: creating supportive female networks among students and practitioners, peer mentoring, using gender-sensitive language and de signing favourable working conditions. The importance of training medical students and professionals in gender analysis and gender-sensitive programming is suggested as a strategy towards achieving gender equality in health. Gender analysis contributes to the understanding of differentials in: risk factors and exposures; manifestation, severity and frequency of diseases; and social and cultural responses to diseases.