Women In Society Research Articles

A five-year, multi-institutional mentorship program in radiation oncology: the Society for Women in Radiation Oncology experience: Short running title: SWRO Mentorship Program

BackgroundMentorship in the field of radiation oncology (RO) promotes career development and satisfaction. Many individuals, however, do not have access to mentorship or are unsatisfied with their mentorship experience, potentially due to insufficient gender-concordant mentorship opportunities. To address this, the Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO) created the SWRO Mentorship Program for women, gender minorities, and those with intersecting marginalized identities at all stages of training for physicians and medical physicists. We present the five-year experience of the largest multi-institutional mentorship program, to our knowledge, in RO. MethodsPublicly available information and the SWRO mentorship sign-up form were used. Descriptive statistics and binomial tests compared to reference points were conducted. ResultsBetween January 2018 and June 2023, 296 individuals from 19 countries participated in the mentorship program, generating 225 mentee-mentor pairs. The majority were female (89.2%), based in the United States (US; 84.8%), and on the physician-track (96.6%). The remainder of the analysis focused on US-based, physician-track participants (n = 244), the majority of whom were female (96.7%) and trainees (58.2%). Among those who have completed RO residency, most accepted a first job in academia (82.1%) and remained in academia at the time of the analysis (76.3%). A significantly higher proportion of SWRO mentorship participants compared to the reference point took a first job in academia (82.1% vs 58.3%; p<0.0001). The most common disease sites of focus for the physician-track trainees who finished residency are breast (50.4%), central nervous system (32.7%), and gynecologic malignancies (30.1%), with 54% listing more than one. The most common expressed goals of mentorship are research (35.8%), leadership (24.5%), and building connections within a specific geography or institution (19.2%). ConclusionsThe SWRO experience demonstrates the feasibility of a large-scale, multi-institutional mentorship program in RO.

“You don’t have to say much; paint it then!”: A Thematic Analysis of Mural Arts in Iraq (Mosul and Erbil as a Case)

People find themselves in need of adding some inspiration indoors; interior designers likely let their customers immerse in the charm of some wall art decor with sweet family room wall quotes like “Love begins at home”. The art of filling walls exceeds the interior spaces for decoration, including outdoor spaces where different forms of artistic expression are used. This wall art matters among populations globally as it conveys different messages to the public and the decision-makers as well. The current article investigates Mural Arts (MAs) in Mosul and Erbil, Iraq. The researchers aim to (1) interpret the variety of themes that Mosuli Artists (MoAs) and Erbili Artists (ErAs) communicate via painting and (2) figure out the shared and distinctive theme in MoAs and ErAs’ artwork. This study employed a qualitative approach to grasp the themes of MAs in both Mosul and Erbil. The researchers gathered 60 Mixed Mural Arts MMA samples (verbal and visual); 38 in Mosul and 22 in Erbil in four months (from 8 August to 20 November 2023). They purposefully covered a broad range of sites including street walls, building facades, government institution walls, school walls, and bridge side walls in both cities. The researchers employed the Thematic Analysis Approach (TAA)by Braun and Clarke (2006) benefiting from NVivo 11(1999-2017) software to induce themes in Mosul and Erbil. This study revealed a total of 13 themes in both Mosul and Erbil in Mosul and 5 in Erbil. 2 themes, viz. ‘Environmental Sustainability’ and ‘Patriotism’ were shared. Other 6 themes viz, ‘The Transformative Power of Knowledge’, ‘The Horse as a Symbol of Nobility’, ‘Reviving the City of Mosul’, ‘Women Abuse’, ‘Unity for Iraq’, and ‘Martyrdom’ were said to be distinctive in Mosul whereas 3 other themes, viz. ‘The Role of Women in Society’, ‘Music Therapy’, and ‘Motivation in Learning’ were interpreted in Erbil.

In the Era of pass/fail: Medical student perceptions on optimizing their surgical residency applications

BackgroundIt is unclear how changes to the 2023–2024 Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application will impact future applicants. We investigate students’ perceptions about applying to residency during this transition period. MethodsAn anonymous electronic survey was sent to medical students through social media of a women's surgical society. Questions reflected aspects of the ERAS application. ResultsThere were 415 responses, with 68 ​% planning to apply into surgical specialties (SS) and 17 ​% into non-surgical specialties (NSS). Compared with the NSS group, SS students reported decreased confidence in successfully matching, less attainable applicant expectations, and increased personal sacrifices to pursue their residency of interest. Students interested in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) placed 3-times more importance on the number of publications than General Surgery students. Away rotations were rated significantly more important for Otolaryngology, Orthopaedic, and PRS students. ConclusionStudents applying into surgical residencies experience unique stressors. Values among SS students differed across surgical subspecialties in preparation for the match. Further investigation characterizing the relationship between these values and characteristics of successful resident applicants is warranted.

Reply to Editorial Comment on "Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology"

Reply to Editorial Comment on "Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology"

Editorial Comment on “Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology”

Editorial Comment on “Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology”

A Feminist Critique of Women Portrayal in NGUGI WA THIONGO’S Devil on the Cross

African American Literature demonstrates that the Black Women's Feminism Caucus acknowledged that black women faced a dual patriarchal oppression from within their own community and from white society. This paper examines how Devil on the Cross portrays a Kikuyu woman striving for liberation and transformative change in Kenyan society. Employing a feminist perspective, the researcher contends that Ngugi Wa Thiong'o illustrates the plight of women in Kenyan society, interpreting feminism within its cultural framework. Building on this foundation, the study advocates for the designation of essential services such as police protection, justice, shelters, helplines, and community support services, ensuring they receive adequate support and resources to operate during pandemics and other public emergencies affecting women and girls. It emphasizes the necessity of involving women and women's civil society organizations in policy formulation, development, and implementation to integrate their knowledge, experiences, and needs into response strategies. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of prioritizing prevention and protection against gender-based and domestic violence in national responses by collecting detailed data on the prevalence of such violence and identifying which demographics of women and girls are most vulnerable. Keywords: Domestic violence, Feminist critique, Fiction, Women emancipation, Women portrayal

Occupational Radiation Exposure During Pregnancy: A Survey of Urologists on Perception, Experience, and Practice Patterns.

Introduction: The field of urology is predominantly male; however, there has been an increasing number of women in the workforce. Peak reproductive years frequently overlap with residency training and early attending career timelines. Exposure to ionizing radiation is a common occupational hazard in many procedural specialties. The use of radiation, for example, in interventional cardiology and interventional radiology, has shown little adjustments in practice patterns, with no adverse outcomes reported among pregnant physicians in their fields in the setting of appropriate radiation safety measures. The impact of radiation exposure during pregnancy for urologists is largely unknown. Our objective was to determine attitudes and practices of urologists related to radiation exposure and to characterize the experience of urologists who have previously been pregnant. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed through relevant society membership bases, which included the Endourological Society and the Society for Women in Urology, and social media. Demographics, practice patterns, and changes to practice patterns were recorded for respondents. Statistical analysis was performed in R studio. Results: There were 384 respondents, 255 of whom identified as women. Of these, 164 had been previously pregnant. Female respondents were younger, completed training more recently, and were more likely to have adjusted their caseload due to radiation concerns compared with their male counterparts. Of women who had been pregnant, few had access to policies for who to notify (19%), policies for safety precautions (22%), custom-fitted lead (35%), and maternity lead (20%). Most women (66%) relied on their own research for guidance on radiation safety during pregnancy, while some (41%) also used information from colleagues or mentors. Forty-six percent of women would have taken greater precautions during pregnancy than they did. Conclusions: Access to the appropriate tools to safely navigate pregnancy is inconsistent among practicing urologists. Evidence-based guidelines are needed to better empower pregnant urologists.

Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology

ObjectiveTo provide a framework for diversifying the urologic workforce through residency recruitment by integrating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into program mission and values, application review, and interview process. Materials and MethodsFor this narrative review, the Society of Women in Urology Advancing DEI in Urology Residency Recruitment Task Force identified four areas for incorporating DEI into residency recruitment: defining a residency program’s mission and values, holistic application review, an objective interview process, and implementing DEI principles into a program. Using PubMed and Google Scholar, we performed a non-systematic literature search of articles from January 2014 through January 2024. Search terms included combinations of “diversity”, “equity”, “inclusion”, “residency”, “holistic review”, “applications”, “interviews”, and “initiatives”. Additional resources were identified through citations of selected articles. Based on findings from these articles, Task Force members made recommendations for best practices. ResultsThe diversity of practicing urologists is disproportionate to that of the United States population. Emerging evidence demonstrates that DEI efforts in healthcare are associated with better outcomes and reduction in healthcare inequities. We offer strategies for residency programs to integrate DEI initiatives into their recruitment, application review, and interview process. Furthermore, we address extending DEI principles into a program’s mission and culture to create an inclusive environment conducive to training and supporting individuals from unique backgrounds. ConclusionIt is critical to recruit and retain diverse talent into urology to improve patient care. We urge residency programs and their supporting institutions to adopt DEI principles into their recruitment efforts.

Gender equity in academic dermatology: Problems aplenty, yetpaths ahead.

Efforts to achieve gender equity of health professionals should be a priority in all fields of medicine, including academic dermatology. This review aimed, first, to summarize available evidence about the status of gender equity in various domains of academic dermatology-headship positions, salary, editor and editorial board appointments, publications, conference presentations, receipt of research grants and academic prizes-second, to identify challenges to achieving gender equity and, third, to articulate the components of a multifaceted strategy for gender parity. A variety of databases were searched. Manual searching of reference lists and searching of grey literature were also undertaken. It was found that, despite improvements in some domains, the gender inequity persists in all of the above-mentioned areas of academic dermatology. Challenges to achieve gender parity include time in pregnancy, disproportionate participation in childrearing and domestic tasks compared with men, suboptimal legislation in many jurisdictions for parenting and childcare leave, and unconscious biases about women. Elements of a multipronged approach include strengthening women's dermatology societies that advocate for women in academia; celebrating the careers of distinguished female academic dermatologists; mentoring; promoting leadership courses; striving for a greater representation of women among editors-in-chief, authors, and conference presenters, among others; seeking better pay, leave conditions and other work entitlements; conducting high-quality research about gender inequity in academic dermatology; imposing sanctions for violations of gender equity; supporting dermatologists' health; and learning from the experience of other fields of academic medicine.

"When a story gets a face…": Visual elicitation of Serbian perspectives on Afghan refugee women's maternity experiences in Serbia.

Serbia is a country through which many Afghans pass, en route to the European Union. Pregnancy and birth continues for Afghan women while journeying. This study aims to examine the understanding and attitudes of Serbian health professionals and members of women's civil society organisations (CS0) about the perinatal experiences of Afghan women in Serbia, using a webcomic to elicit responses. A total of 38 respondents completed the questionnaire, including health professionals (n = 10), women's CSO members (n = 6), and others (n = 10). The majority had little awareness of the experiences of Afghan women around the childbearing time and for most respondents, viewing the webcomic raised their awareness. Qualitative questionnaire data were analysed thematically, and four inductive themes developed: (1) maternal health provision as inadequate; (2) Afghan women face difficulties in Serbia; (3) solidarity with Afghan women; and (4) the webcomic raises awareness. Webcomics, as a visual modality, may play a valuable role in increasing empathy and awareness of refugee women's perinatal experiences among citizens.

Gender Equality in Wartime: How War Changed the Role of Women in Society

The article analyzes the current state and promising ways of ensuring gender equality in the defense and security forces of Ukraine. The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the resulting violation of territorial integrity, sovereignty, encroachment on Ukraine’s independence, brought to the fore the issue of overcoming gender stereotypes, establishing equality, and combating gender-based and sexual violence both in Ukraine and around the world. In these conditions, first of all, the state policy regarding the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was revised. This article focuses on the issues of military service from the point of view of equal rights, opportunities and equal value of the results of the activities of men and women. “Stereotyping” of their roles in resolving armed conflicts is one of the reasons for gender inequality within the security and defense sector of Ukraine. The author analyzed the number of armed forces of some foreign countries for genetic equality. Some countries already have female (or predominantly female) units, however, regular armies rarely involve them in direct combat. It is concluded that women play a significant role in the modern Ukrainian army, and recent events, in particular Russian aggression against Ukraine, continue to create instability in the world. And in such difficult conditions, our state, most likely, will have to exist for quite a long time. Therefore, it would be possible to significantly strengthen the defense capability of the country by attracting women to mandatory military service. The article also draws attention to the fact that in modern conditions there is a steady trend towards a significant increase in the number of women, the geography of the positions held by female servicemen is expanding significantly, but in order to ensure gender equality in the Armed Forces, the legislator must still improve the mechanism for taking into account the characteristics of social gender under time of military service. Moreover, the understanding of gender equality in the military should become established - not as a mechanical identification of men and women, but as taking into account the specifics of the capabilities of one or another social gender to effectively perform their official duties in certain positions with the most positive result.

Reading Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A Tale of ‘subalternity’ and ‘New Women’

Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness offers a profound exploration of the evolving roles and responsibilities of women in Indian society. As usual, Arundhati Roy showed us how to become a champion of the downtrodden. Her latest work The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is evidence of her promises towards society. Not only does she depict the inhuman condition of subalterns but she also projected them as new faces of subjugated people who fight against prejudice and unjust society. The faces which have defied the discriminatory social norms and set their journey of respect and identity. This research endeavour is taken to critically analyse the novel which reflects on the two different lives lived by the different women and transgender characters. It will analyse two different presentations of the same women's character. One character is, one who has lived a life of disrespect, humiliation, and oppression. Other characters are the same but the difference lies in their evolving personalities. The evolved women are more resilient, empowered, independent, publicly stand-alone and challenge societal norms. The perspectives of ‘subalternity’ will be analysed from Ranajit Guha, Gayatri Chakraborty Spivak and the other scholars of the Subaltern Studies Group and the concept of ‘New Women’ will be analysed from the theory given by Sarah Grand. After analysing two different theoretical concepts the proposed studies will show how women and transgender subalterns become New Women in society.

Razvoj nižih stručnih zanatskih škola u Nišu od kraja XIX veka do 1914. godine

This paper provides a brief overview of the development of lower vocational schools in Niš from their establishment until 1914, i.e., until the beginning of the First World War. In that period, there were three lower vocational schools in Niš: the Trade School of the Niš Trade Youth, the Women's Workers' School of the Women's Society, and the General Vocational Sunday-Holiday School. Despite the challenges it encountered during its establishment, the Trade School of the Niš Trade Youth began its work in 1893. As early as 1895, the Niš Trade Youth joined forces with the craftsmen, and the association became known as the Niš Trade-Craft Youth. The association and the school were suspended from 1897 to 1901 due to disagreements between merchants and craftsmen, but they continued to operate under the old name. The Women's Workers' School was founded in 1883 by the Niš branch of the Women's Society through the use of its own finances. It was the women's worker's school for embroidery, white linen, and dresses, where the majority of classes were focused on professional subjects and practical work. The General Vocational Sunday-Holiday School was established in 1903 as an evening, weekly holiday general-type school. The General Vocational Sunday-Holiday School aimed to develop competent craftsmen-masters from students through theoretical, professional, and practical instruction. This paper considers the establishment of these schools, the problems they had to face, and their significance for the development of the city of Niš

Жінки України у боротьбі за формування національного світогляду в умовах еміграції: на прикладі діяльності українських жіночих організацій Канади

Successful development and the formation of a modern legal system in Ukraine should be based on the understanding of the value of human life, the importance of the full and harmonious development of each individual, ensuring human rights, and the necessity of creating conditions for the self-realization of human potential. This is possible only through the provision of gender equality. The study and reconsideration of the idea of gender equality through the example of the activities of Ukrainian women's movements in the conditions of emigration not only analyze the development of this idea in the past but also take into account the achievements of the past in understanding the ways and legal mechanisms for the real provision of gender equality in modern Ukrainian society. The article examines the role and contribution of Ukrainian women in the process of shaping the national worldview among the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. The importance of the contribution of Ukrainian women in the diaspora to the formation of cultural and national identity helps to highlight their role in preserving and developing the Ukrainian heritage beyond the homeland and their influence on the activities of women's movements in Ukraine during the studied period. An integral part of the socio-political life in the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada became the women's movement, which initiated the creation of Ukrainian women's societies. Their task was not only to preserve national self-identification and culture but also the need to assist national institutions in Ukraine. The article also reveals important aspects of women's activities in public life, education, the cultural sphere, and the struggle for the rights of the Ukrainian community in Canada. It explores the instruments, methods, and strategies used by women to support their national identity and contribute to the formation of a Ukrainian national worldview among the immigrant community.

Women Empowerment: Identity of Women in Ancient India and Modern Indian Globalized Society

India's history and culture have earned itself a unique place on the global orb. In the world's top ten, our nation excels in terms of culture, politics, economy, military might, and other areas. Even if there were attempts to ameliorate these circumstances in the nation following independence, these measures have been more intense recently. Given that women comprise 50% of the population, they should be given ample deliberation. Consequently, to empower the human resources of the society, efforts are being initiated to strengthen, empower, and develop their innate qualities. Dr. Ambedkar had once stated that understanding a society's women's status is crucial to understanding its advancement. Just how robust can a civilization get? The idea of women's empowerment has gained traction in recent years and is now a hotly debated subject in today's culture. Women have historically been disadvantaged and mistreated in countries like India, thus empowering them is now essential to societal advancement. Globalization has brought about a paradigm shift in the Indian women's identity, presenting them with new opportunities as well as challenges in the contemporary world. Women in ancient India had a distinct identity that was moulded by cultural customs, religious beliefs, and social conventions. The purpose of this paper is to examine women's identities in Ancient India and Globalised Modern Indian scenario, with emphatic emphasis on their rights, roles, and difficulties. Patriarchal core value is the persistent perception of women as second-class citizens.

Menopause in Sickle Cell Disease: Unchartered Territory

Menopause is a natural part of every women's life, but it may also be a time of change leading to biopsychosocial complications. Perimenopause is the time during which the body transitions to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years. The Society for Women's Health Research Menopause Working Group cites that signs of progression toward menopause such as menstrual irregularity may be noted in the 40s, but some women may notice changes as early as their mid-30s. Perimenopause can last several years. Perimenopausal care plays an important role in the promotion of healthy aging and quality of life. For some, symptoms of menopause can have a detrimental impact on quality of life and pose serious risks to bone, cardiovascular and genitourinary health. There is a paucity of literature in menopause and sickle cell disease (SCD). A longitudinal study in Brazil of 15 women with SCD and a multi-center study of hydroxycarbamide exposure and ovarian reserve by Pecker et al have both indicated that women with SCD may have early menopause. Our exploratory study sought to determine menopause health-literacy and describe bothersome menopausal symptoms in women with SCD. A multi-faceted approach (one-on-one semi-structured interview, focus group, and registry analysis) was used for this single-institution exploratory study. Individuals were recruited during their routine clinic visit. Inclusion criteria included age &amp;gt;30 and ongoing menstruation OR prior menstruation. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, breast-feeding, and history of stem-cell transplant. First, a mixed-methods survey was utilized. Next, a focus group was conducted to further elicit the views of patients about menopause and the role of healthcare providers in management of menopause for individuals with SCD. The focus group discussion was transcribed and then examined for recurring themes. The individual surveys and focus groups indicated a perceived exacerbation of SCD symptoms and complications as individuals became perimenopausal. To further assess this, data from the Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC) registry from our site was analyzed to compare healthcare utilization between age-matched males and females. A total of 17 individuals were interviewed individually with a semi-structured questionnaire during their routine clinic visit. Individuals with HbSS on hydroxyurea underwent menopause at a median age of 50 years while those on no disease modifying treatment underwent menopause at a median age of 39 years. Many patients felt uninformed about menopause. Those who felt knowledgeable about the topic received their information from their own career in healthcare, friends, family, and the internet (Table 1). The focus group consisted of 5 female participants (3 perimenopausal and 2 post-menopausal) to elicit each individual's experiences around menopause and menopause specific care. Participants indicated worsening of SCD, hot flashes, and genitourinary complaints as their most bothersome issues with menopause. Participants reported having more frequent crises as they went through the menopause transition. Overall participants indicated that, after menopause, pain crises and hot flashes improved but genitourinary symptoms persisted. In addition, participants cited frustration over inability to address menopause related symptoms with their healthcare providers and even mentioned that providers were dismissive of their symptoms or attributed them to SCD without considering menopause transition. Further information was gathered and analyzed from the SCDIC registry; results showed that non-pregnant women have increased numbers of admissions as they enter age group of 30-40 years (Poisson regression eβ [95% CI]: 1.4 [1.3-1.7], P &amp;lt;0.001), while admissions for men decrease as they enter age group of 30-40 years (Poisson regression eβ [95% CI]: 0.49 [0.36-0.68], P &amp;lt;0.001). For the 30-40 age group, women are more likely to have admissions compared to men (Table 2). This finding could potentially be related to premature menopause contributing to increased admissions. While this study is limited due to the small size and exploratory nature, our preliminary work indicates that menopause is unchartered territory, and that many gaps exist in menopause health literacy and menopause related care delivery for women with SCD. Our findings highlight the need for further research on menopause in SCD.

Social determinants of health and obstetric outcomes: A report and recommendations of the workshop of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

This article is a report of a two-day workshop, entitled “Social Determinants of Health and Obstetric Outcomes,” held during the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2022 Annual Pregnancy Meeting. Participants’ fields of expertise included obstetrics, pediatrics, epidemiology, health services, health equity, community-based research, and systems biology. The Commonwealth Foundation and the Alliance of Innovation on Maternal Health co-sponsored the workshop and the Society for Women’s Health Research provided additional support. The workshop included presentations and small group discussions, and its goals were to:

The Society for Women in Radiation Oncology: Where are We Five Years Later?

The Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO) was founded in 2017 with a mission to promote representation and gender equity in the field of radiation oncology (RO). SWRO members include faculty and trainee radiation oncologists and medical physicists. We aim to assess the current experiences of SWRO members using a comprehensive survey of gender-related workforce issues we developed. Data was used to establish a 5-year benchmark. From January to February 2023, an anonymous survey was distributed to current SWRO members. Questions included demographics, family planning/fertility issues, perceptions of the field, and membership needs. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize frequencies of the multiple-choice items on the survey. On interim analysis, 115 of 680 (17%) completed the survey from 11 countries, 81% of which reside in the US. 55% were faculty physicians, 26% resident physicians, 10% faculty physicists, and 3% physics residents. The majority were female (97%) and either married or in a domestic partnership (74%). 47% reported having at least one child, and 26% reported that they or their partner became pregnant during residency. Length of leave was impacted by residents' desire to complete residency training on schedule. 53% felt RO was perceived as family-friendly, but much fewer (17%) agreed that it is. After clinical responsibilities (70%), insufficient mentorship was cited as the second most common limitation to professional productivity (35%). 48% reported being somewhat or extremely satisfied with current mentorship availability at their institution, while 56% reported being similarly satisfied with the mentorship available within the field. 69% reported seeking or having sought female mentorship outside of their institution. Unwanted sexual comments, attention, or advances by superiors or colleagues was reported by 38% of respondents. Additionally, 72% either agreed or strongly agreed that SWRO membership and participation were a valuable use of their time, with the top three reasons for joining being networking opportunities, mentorship opportunities, and increasing the visibility of women and gender minorities in RO. Suggested improvements included increasing female physics representation and advocacy, and physics-related events, as well as providing opportunities for members to socialize and interact. This study provides an update on the experiences of women and gender minorities in the field of RO since the creation of SWRO in 2017. The study highlights ongoing targets for improvement such as gender-based obstacles, opportunity for additional education and advocacy, support of family-friendly culture shifts, mentorship, and increased physics inclusion and advocacy. These findings support the need for organizations such as SWRO to continue to promote representation and gender equity in RO.

Attitudes and Barriers to Planned Family Building among Professionals and Trainees in Radiation Oncology

The timing of residency training often coincides with peak biological fertility. However, family building is frequently deferred and may lead to unanticipated infertility. The attitudes and barriers to family planning are not well described among medical professionals and trainees in radiation oncology (RO). The Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO) conducted an electronic survey among practicing physicians, physicists, and residents between January and February 2023, using email and social media as recruitment tools. The survey questions queried demographics, family planning, fertility. Frequencies of responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. On interim analysis, 147 responses were collected; 123 (89.8%) were SWRO members. Gender identities reported were female (136, 93.2%), male (7, 4.8%), nonbinary or gender diverse (2, 1.4%), and transgender female (1, 0.7%). 95 (64.6%) respondents were age 35 or younger. The majority were practicing physicians (72, 49.0%) followed by RO residents (45, 30.6%), medical physicists (17, 11.6%), medical students, (5, 3.4%), and medical physics residents (4, 2.7%). Most respondents agreed that their reproductive timeline had been impacted by medical training (106, 76.3%). Of those who deferred parenthood due to training or career, 40 (36.7%) were dissatisfied with their choice and 33 (30.2%) were satisfied. 129 (92.8%) reported not receiving any information about fertility preservation during training. Only 65 (47.4%) felt they had a mentor with whom they could approach to discuss family planning. Overall, 84 (60.4%) expressed concern about their fertility and 34 (24.5%) had previously undergone fertility testing. 16 (11.5%) completed at least one cycle of elective fertility preservation and 12 (8.6%) were planning to do so. 39 (28.1%) had considered elective fertility preservation but not pursued it, while 65 (46.8%) had not considered it. Among those two groups, the common reported barriers to accessing fertility services were financial burden (n = 28, 28.6%), lack of awareness of available options (n = 12, 12.2%), difficulty accessing fertility services (n = 6, 6.1%), and difficulty finding time during training (n = 4, 4.1%). Insurance coverage for elective fertility preservation was fully or partially covered by insurance for 12 (8.8%), not covered for 53 (38.7%), and 72 (52.6%) were uncertain of their coverage. The study highlights the impact of training on family building plans of medical professionals in RO. Despite high levels of concern about fertility, few respondents received education about fertility options in training and a limited number had access to mentors to discuss this issue. Significant barriers exist to accessing fertility services, including knowledge gaps about insurance coverage, highlighting a need for further exploration of these barriers and advocacy for improved family planning support for those in RO who desire it.

Building an inclusive wave in marine science: Sense of belonging and Society for Women in Marine Science symposia

Achieving gender equity is a long-standing and ubiquitous challenge in marine science. Creating equitable experiences for all genders in marine science requires recognizing scientists’ intersectional identities, and how this leads to unique lived experiences of privilege and marginalization. One approach to increase equitable experiences for women in marine science is to create affinity groups where women can learn from each other, share their experiences, and provide support and mentorship. The Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) is one such organization, founded to amplify the work of early career women in marine science and create community, through events such as full-day symposium events. This study investigates the experiences of symposium attendees for four events held from 2018 through 2020, as reported in pre- and post-symposium surveys. We used quantitative analysis of the open-ended survey questions to examine the demographics of attendees and their fields of study. Qualitative thematic analysis identified the most effective aspects of the symposia, areas of logistical and content improvement for future symposia, and emphasized the unique challenges women in marine science experience. The majority of symposium attendees were white graduate students. Nearly all attendees identified as women, with a small number of men and non-binary individuals. Symposia attendees enjoyed opportunities for professional development and interactions with colleagues across career stages. We present recommendations for continuing to foster a sense of belonging in marine science and STEM more broadly, both specific to SWMS and transferable actions that can be applied for other affinity groups. These suggestions include empathetic event logistics, continual democratic evaluation, identity reflexivity among group leaders, and professional development activities targeted towards the unique needs of the affinity group. The positive responses received from SWMS’s adaptive integration of survey results into symposia demonstrate that incorporating these recommendations and findings will help create an inclusive wave in marine science.