Female Role Models Research Articles

988 The Prevalence and Incidence of Gender Bias and Sexual Discrimination in Orthopaedics, and Mitigating Strategies: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background The aim of this systematic review was to outline the prevalence and impact of Gender bias and sexual discrimination (GBSD) in orthopaedics, and to investigate interventions countering such behaviours. Method Original research papers pertaining to the prevalence and impact of gender bias or sexual discrimination, or mitigating strategies in orthopaedics, were suitable for inclusion. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to in this review. Results Of 570 papers, 27 were eligible for inclusion. A total of 13 papers discussed the prevalence of GBSD, whilst 13 related to the impact of these behaviours, and 6 discussed mitigating strategies. GBSD were found to be prevalent in the orthopaedic workplace, with all sources showing females to be the victims. The impact of GBSD includes poor workforce representation, lower salaries, barriers to career progression, and reduced academic output for females in orthopaedics. Mitigating strategies in the literature are focussed on encouraging females to apply for orthopaedic training programmes, by providing female role models, mentors, and educational interventions. Conclusions GBSD are highly prevalent in orthopaedic surgery, impacting females at all stages of their careers. Mitigating strategies have been tested but are limited in their scope. As such, the orthopaedic community as a whole is obliged to do more to tackle GBSD.

Maximizing the impact of exposure to scientific role models: Testing an intervention to increase science identity among adolescent girls

AbstractA field experiment tested an intervention to maximize the impact of a science outreach program by encouraging early adolescent girls (N = 240, Mage =12) to adopt female role models. Girls participated in workshops led by female role models who were scientific experts in their field. Afterward, they were randomly assigned to choose and write about their favorite workshop leader or to write about the first workshop leader. We hypothesized that the intervention would benefit girls who chose and wrote about a favorite leader. However, girls in both conditions experienced significant increases in science identity. Girls demonstrated strong role model identification with the workshop leaders; moreover, role model identification was associated with increases in science identity. Girls in the chosen leader condition focused on her competence and supportiveness more than girls in the assigned leader condition. There was no difference in science identity between girls from well‐represented and underrepresented minority (URM) ethnic groups in scientific fields. URM girls, surprisingly, identified more with the workshop leader than well‐represented girls. Science workshops led by female role models with relevant expertise may facilitate science identification among early adolescent girls from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

O54: GENDER REPRESENTATION IN EDITORIAL BOARDS OF INTERNATIONAL GENERAL SURGERY JOURNALS

Abstract Introduction Despite women constituting over half of new UK doctors, and a similar proportion worldwide, gender disparity remains an issue throughout academic medicine. Surgery has shown particularly slow progress towards gender parity. This study aims to quantify gender representation within editorial boards of the top 25 general surgical journals. Method All surgical journals were collated using the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and Journal Impact Factor (JIF). Non general surgery journals were excluded. Journals were contacted requesting gender editorial team demographics. Editorial board data was collected via journal websites on 20th November 2019. Result The top 25 surgical journals were determined through SJR and JIF ranking methods. Editorial board data was publicly available for 31 of these 32 different surgical journals. This data was then examined. Women accounted for 18.4% (576/3135) of total editorial board positions. Women constituted 12.5% (5/40) of Editors-in-Chief positions, 31.6% (31/98) of Deputy Editors and 17.2% (416/2415) of general editorial board positions. Conclusion For the first time, gender disparity has been demonstrated within editorial boards of the most prominent general surgery journals. The implications of such significant gender disparity are wide reaching. Action should be taken to champion fair female representation, eliminate risk of bias and provide more visible female role models in academic surgery. Take-home message For the first time, this study demonstrates gender disparity in Editorial boards of major general surgery journals. Action should be taken to champion fair female representation, eliminate risk of bias and provide more visible female role models in academic surgery.

Gender diversity in hospitality and tourism top management teams: A systematic review of the last 10 years

Abstract Due to women still accounting for less than a quarter of hospitality and tourism executive-level positions, the purpose of this paper was to identify antecedents to and outcomes of gender diverse hospitality and tourism top management teams, describe potential mediators and moderators to these relationships, and provide directions for future research. A systematic review of gender diversity in hospitality and tourism top management teams (TMTs) was conducted between the years 2010 and 2020, resulting in 26 articles used for the thematic analysis. Antecedents, outcomes, mediators, and moderators of gender diverse hospitality and tourism TMTs were identified. The results indicated female role models, organizational structure, and organizational support as antecedents, while financial performance, business growth, and human resource outcomes were consequences. The resource advantage theory is proposed as an explanation for each of these relationships. This study fills a gap in previous literature by conducting a review of gender diversity, identifying critical gaps, and proposing an overarching theory.

Latina Elementary School Girls’ Experiences in an Urban After-School Physical Education and Literacy Program

Purpose: To understand where and how Latina girls are physically active outside of the Reflective Educational Approach to Character and Health program and the impact of female role models on participation in the program. Methods: The authors implemented a yearlong after-school physical activity and literacy program for fifth and sixth grade girls (N = 22 girls) in a low-income, urban community. Four university students/coaches delivered all sessions. Data were triangulated through 10 Latina girls’ interviews, student journals, coaches’ journals, researcher journals, and field notes, and analyzed using constant comparison. Results: Girls participated in leisure-time physical activities with family in community spaces, in spite of social and cultural barriers. Female coaches facilitated girls’ increased engagement by acting as strong role models and fostering caring relationships. Conclusion: After-school programs, community spaces, and strong connections with coaches play a critical role in students’ engagement in physical activity.

Women Who Persist: Pathways to Power in Eastern Indonesia

In contrast to accounts that explain increases in women’s political representation by reference to structural and institutional factors, this article draws attention to the agency of women candidates. The number of women elected in the Eastern Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara ( Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT) increased markedly in 2019. To explain this increase, this article highlights the remarkable persistence of women candidates, many of whom succeeded in 2019 only after competing in multiple prior elections, slowly building their personal political skills and reputations. The article also draws attention to the effects of positive female role models – showing how a female candidate in a gubernatorial race inspired other women politicians – and the positive effects that can arise from co-operation among women candidates. It shows that, despite the emphasis on male dominance and dynastic power in much of the literature on Indonesian politics, there are still pathways to power for women with origins in the grassroots.

WISQ (Women in Surgery Questionnaire): A Glimpse at the Caribbean Perspective

Objective: This is a social research endeavour enquiring into the experiences and careers of women in surgery working in the Caribbean. It aims to assess the personal and professional fulfilment of women in the surgical specialty. This is critical to enhancing set patterns and highlighting areas requiring improvement. Design: A 35- point questionnaire was distributed to seven (7) tertiary health care facilities in three (3) Caribbean countries. Study population inclusion criteria were all females in a post-graduate surgical programme, and all female registrars and consultants in the surgery department. Nine (9) surgical specialties were included. Results: Out of the seventy-six (76) questionnaires delivered, seventy (70) of these were returned for analysis, averaging a ninety-two percent (92%) return. Analysis of this study population depicted a mean age of 37 years (SD 8.96), and the majority of physicians held registrar job roles, approximately forty- three percent (43%). Based on the 7-point Likert scale, job satisfaction was viewed positively (mean score [SD], 5.5 [1.5]), but personal satisfaction showed a general shift towards a less favourable stance (mean score [SD], 4.4 [1.89]). Over seventy percent (70%) indicated that they had no active mentor relationships, strongly contrasting with the sixty-one (61) respondents (88%), who declared that this would be beneficial to career advancement. Conclusion: The glass ceiling has been mentioned several times when speaking about women in the surgical discipline worldwide. It is still a challenge in the 21st century in attempting to bridge the male-female imbalance in the workforce. However, active mentor relationships and the presence of positive female role-models, help attenuate this.

Closing the gap: Increasing female representation in surgical leadership

BackgroundFemale medical students outnumber males with increasing representation in the workforce. However, women remain underrepresented in surgical leadership. Suggested reasons for this discrepancy are lack of female role models, mentorship, and gender discrimination. Thus, we set out to examine the change in leadership over time in our Department. MethodsLeadership data was gathered from a Department of Surgery in 2016 and 2020. Demographics including gender, age, and leadership position were compared using chi-squared testing. ResultsFemale representation in leadership roles increased from 2016 to 2020 at each professor rank(professor 0–100%, p < .001; associate professor 25–90%, p < .001, and assistant professor 7–71%, p < .001). In 2020, there were more female faculty(19.8 vs 26.4%, p = .270). ConclusionsFemale leadership in the Department has increased since 2016. Promoting females to leadership roles provides role models for upcoming female surgeons. Resources should be allocated to promote gender equity in surgical leadership.

Potential and pitfalls of citizen science with children: Reflections on Pollinators in the Playground project

AbstractEngaging school‐age children in activities involving ‘real‐world’ science and interacting with scientific researchers can promote an interest in appreciating and understanding the natural world and the scientific method. Here, we describe a project involving five female early‐career and PhD researchers who facilitated a citizen science project with school‐age children. Under the guidance of the researchers, across five schools, children created artificial flowers and installed them on school ovals. Over repeated 10‐min observations, students recorded how colour (yellow vs. blue) and configuration (isolated, clumped adjacent, clumped mixed colour and clumped single colour) influenced how many and what taxa of insects visited. Here, we reflect on what we were able to achieve including creating a simple, fun, cost‐effective project; anecdotal student interest in insects, and positive female STEM role models. We also acknowledge constraints and shortcomings, including set curricula resulting in suboptimal season for pollinator studies; confounding of results due to children’s observations; and being unable to verify the data. We offer recommendations for more robust projects in future, which include collecting specimens to verify results, and measuring learning outcomes. If these recommendations are met, researcher–student projects can engage children in conducting scientific experiments with applications for home and school garden management.

The Influence of Gangs in Central America with Respect to Woman’s Wellbeing

The purpose of this paper is to identify the influence of gangs in Central America on women and the communities that the gangs control. This examination incorporates system dynamics modeling techniques, which includes using Vensim software to show both Causal Loop and Stock and Flow Diagrams. This research evaluates the influence of a community’s power over its citizens through its ability to enforce anti-gang policies and the strength of local community organizations. Comparing five different Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) allowed the model to provide data to create policy recommendations for the entire region in addition to each of the five countries. Our conclusions suggest that thorough increasing policies restricting gang activities and promoting women’s involvement in society (via higher levels of education, female employment, and female role models), communities will grow stronger and be less affected by the violence and influence of gangs.

Improving high school physics outcomes for young women

A two-week summer program that engages young women in inquiry-based physics experiments and connects them with female professional role models improves performance in introductory physics.

Women in Leadership and Their Influence on the Gender Diversity of Academic Plastic Surgery Programs.

Women seldom reach the highest leadership positions in academic plastic surgery. Contributing factors include lack of female role models/mentors and lack of gender diversity. Studies show that female role models and mentors are critical for recruiting and retaining female surgeons and that gender diversity within organizations more strongly influences women's career choices. The authors therefore sought to determine the current gender diversity of academic plastic surgery programs and investigate influences of gender and leadership on program gender composition. A cross-sectional study of U.S. plastic surgery residency programs was performed in December of 2018. Genders of the leadership were collected, including medical school dean, department of surgery chair, department/division of plastic surgery chair/chief, plastic surgery program director, plastic surgery faculty, and plastic surgery residents. Gender relationships among these groups were analyzed. Ninety-nine residency programs were identified (79 integrated with or without independent and 20 independent). Women represented a smaller proportion of academic plastic surgeons in more senior positions (38 percent residents, 20 percent faculty, 13 percent program directors, and 8 percent chairs). Plastic surgery chair gender was significantly correlated with program director gender, and plastic surgery faculty gender was significantly associated with plastic surgery resident gender. Although not statistically significant, female plastic surgery chair gender was associated with a 45 percent relative increase in female plastic surgery residents. Women in leadership and gender diversity influence the composition of academic plastic surgery programs. Gender disparity exists at all levels, worsening up the academic ladder. Recruitment, retention, and promotion of women is critical, as such diversity is required for continued progress in innovation and problem-solving within plastic surgery.

Women's role in neurosurgical research: is the gender gap improving?

The percentage of women publishing high-impact neurosurgical research might be perceived as a representation of our specialty and may influence the perpetuation of the existing gender gap. This study investigated whether the trend in women taking lead roles in neurosurgical research has mirrored the increase in female neurosurgeons during the past decade and whether our most prestigious publications portray enough female role models to stimulate gender diversity among the new generation of neurosurgeons. Two of the most prominent neurosurgical journals-Journal of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery-were selected for this study, and every original article that was published in 2009 and 2019 in each of those journals was investigated according to the gender of the first and senior authors, their academic titles, their affiliations, and their institutions' region. A total of 1328 articles were analyzed. The percentage of female authors was significantly higher in Europe and Russia compared with the US and Canada (first authors: 60/302 [19.9%] vs 109/829 [13.1%], p = 0.005; and senior authors: 32/302 [10.6%] vs 57/829 [6.9%], p = 0.040). Significantly increased female authorship was observed from 2009 to 2019, and overall numbers of both first and senior female authors almost doubled. However, when analyzing by regions, female authorship increased significantly only in the US and Canada. Female authors of neurosurgical research articles were significantly less likely to hold an MD degree compared with men. Female neurosurgeons serving as senior authors were represented in only 3.6% (48/1328) of articles. Women serving as senior authors were more likely to have a female colleague listed as the first author of their research (29/97 [29.9%] vs 155/1231 [12.6%]; χ2 = 22.561, p = 0.001). Although this work showed an encouraging increase in the number of women publishing high-impact neurosurgical research, the stagnant trend in Europe may suggest that a glass ceiling has been reached and further advances in equity would require more aggressive measures. The differences in the researchers' profiles (academic title and affiliation) suggest an even wider gender gap. Cultural unconscious bias may explain why female senior authors have more than double the number of women serving as their junior authors compared with men. While changes in the workforce happen, strategies such as publishing specific issues on women, encouraging female editorials, and working toward more gender-balanced editorial boards may help our journals to portray a more equitable specialty that would not discourage bright female candidates.

Media representation and gender bias in science

Research on gender bias in science has often focused on the effects of gender stereotypes or a lack of female role models on the recruitment and retention of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, or on the discrimination women scientists face. Systemic bias fuels, and is cyclically reinforced by, media representations of scientists (who are most often presented as white men). While many proposed interventions to address gender inequality in science focus on changing women’s beliefs or behaviour to help them succeed, more inclusive representation of scientists could meaningfully contribute to reshaping the cultural beliefs that act on both genders to deny women opportunities and produce inhospitable learning and working environments.

Performing and unperforming entrepreneurial success: Confessions of a female role model

ABSTRACT Female role models are increasingly used in enterprise support to encourage women to open businesses. Although varied in detail, their public narratives generally follow a limited number of plots where hard work overcomes all obstacles and leads to emotionally fulfilling, rewarding careers while societally enabled resource accumulation and financial returns are rarely mentioned. This autoethnographic inquiry critically examines one such publicly disseminated role model narrative, the author’s own, and contrasts it with an alternative, unspoken story. Using a narrative approach, performative lens, and insights from the role model literature, it offers a theoretically informed analysis of these contrasting accounts exploring how the relationship between individual agency and social context is occluded in role model narratives. It theorizes a performative paradox where, in order to meet the politically charged imperative to “inspire and empower” disadvantaged aspirants, role models simultaneously perform shared social identity and deny its impact. Implications for enterprise support are discussed.

Eponymously named surgical instruments and gender: why representation matters

Women continue to be under-represented in most surgical specialties, especially in academic hospitals. Historically, most surgical instruments are named for the surgeon who developed or invented them. A review of surgical instruments was completed to better understand the impact of women innovators in surgery. Eponymous instrument names were cross-referenced to the surgeon for whom they were named through a review of historical texts, medical journals, and online instrument catalogues; an interview was also conducted. Of 458 eponymous instrument names, only three were connected to women: spine surgeon Dr. Nancy Epstein, and ophthalmologists Dr. Bonnie Henderson and Dr. Sheri Rowen. Dr. Sheri Rowen was interviewed to discuss her experience developing new surgical instruments and her career as a female surgeon. This interview highlighted the importance of same-gender role models in surgery, which is supported by the literature; having female surgeon role models is associated with a greater interest in a surgical career for female medical students. Gender-based discrimination has also been shown in the literature to be a barrier against women in surgery. A discussion of opportunities for improving the representation of women in surgery is presented: medical education departments should improve female surgeon representation through lectures, conferences, and meetings; schools should also provide female surgeon mentorship for female medical students.

Female trailblazers and role models in procedure-based cardiology

A recent British Junior Cardiologists Association survey demonstrated gender disparity in procedure-based subspecialties within cardiology in the UK.1 Women form between 4.5% and 7.5% of the interventional cardiology (IC) workforce...

Gender-Specific Factors Influencing Gastroenterologists to Pursue Careers in Advanced Endoscopy: Perceptions vs Reality.

In 2020, only 19% of 63 matched advanced endoscopy (AE) fellows were women. This study evaluates the gender-specific factors that influence gastroenterologists to pursue careers in AE. An anonymous survey was distributed to gastroenterology fellows and attendings through various gastroenterology society online forums. Data were collected on demographics, training, mentorship, current practice, family planning, and career satisfaction. Women comprised 71.1% of the 332 respondents. 24.7% of female fellows plan to pursue an AE career compared with 37.5% of male fellows (P = 0.195). The main motivating factor for both genders was interest in the subject area. Interest in another subspecialty was the main deterring factor for both genders. Women were more deterred by absence of same-sex mentors (P < 0.001), perception of gender-based bias in the workplace (P = 0.009), family planning (P = 0.018), fertility/pregnancy risks from radiation (P < 0.001), and lack of ergonomic equipment (P = 0.003). AE gastroenterologists of both genders were satisfied with their career decision and would recommend the field to any fellow. Most respondents (64%) believed that more female role models/mentors would improve representation of women in AE. There are multiple gender-specific factors that deter women from pursuing AE. Increasing the number of female role models is strongly perceived to improve representation of women in AE. Most AE attendings are satisfied with their career and would recommend it to fellows of any gender. Thus, early targeted mentorship of female trainees has potential to improve recruitment of women to the field.

Does ethnicity count when contextualizing the low proportion of women in STEM in Serbia?

PurposeThe aim of this article is to explore the perceptions of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in two ethnic groups (majority Serb and minority Hungarian) in a multiethnic region – Vojvodina, in Serbia – from an intersectional perspective.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study was implemented, capitalizing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with university faculty members from two ethnic groups working in a multiethnic region of Serbia (Vojvodina) in the STEM field of studies. Intersectionality as a theoretical approach was applied to reveal the interconnectedness between gender, ethnicity and field of studies.FindingsThe intersectional analysis indicates that minority Hungarian women are more conservative and less inclusive toward other women in STEM, thus they continue to build and enforce gender-based stereotypes. Their lack of inclusiveness is due to having had to overcome a situation of “double jeopardy” (Almquist, 1975) when building a career in STEM, being both members of an ethnic minority and women in STEM. Majority Serb women have adopted masculine patterns of behavior, try to blend in, and become “one of the boys” (Powell and Sang, 2015) in order to diminish the gender penalty and be seen as equal to men. Both minority and majority women agreed that deeply rooted gender stereotypes prevent women from choosing a career in STEM and identified the need for more inclusive education programs at all levels and for more female role models in STEM.Originality/valueThe study contributes by increasing understanding of ethnic minority and majority women's issues in STEM studies in Serbia from an intersectional perspective. It may be relevant to policy makers and contribute to the development of policy recommendations that steer more women in general and ethnic minority women specifically toward STEM, with the ultimate goal of enabling Serbia to develop not only socially but also economically. The paper contributes to the limited research on the STEM-related career experiences of ethnic minority Hungarian women and majority Serb women in Serbia and in the Western Balkans in general.

Pernicious Female Role Models and Mid-Victorian London’s Stage

Hutcheon identifies as ‘historiographic metafiction’ those pieces of fiction that expose that our cultural perception of past events is changing and malleable (129). Even though Hutcheon’s theory of historiographic metafiction has been mainly applied to fiction from the post-modern era, certain elements of historical inspiration can be traced back to fiction from the Victorian period. In this article, I propose to turn to the popular theatre of the mid-Victorian period to scrutinize the manipulation of historical female figures, paying close attention to the representation of Lucrezia Borgia as a strong-minded woman. To do so, I analyse the mid-nineteenth century as a moment for asking questions about feminine identity, feminist movements, and alternative representations of female history. By turning to lesser-known mid-Victorian popular plays by H.J. Byron, Charles Matthews, and Leicester Buckingham I will further contribute to an ongoing archaeological task of recovering lost female voices and interpretations from our recent past.