A female doctor status in modern Russian healthcare

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The paper shows that despite a legal right to gender equality and feminization of medical professions, women doctors are demonstrated to face challenges in their professional activities so far: a woman doctor's wage is by far lower compared to that of a male doctor; there remains the influence of the “glass ceiling” and gender stereotypes that limits the free potential realization of women doctors in the profession, especially in surgical specialties and in leadership positions. AIM: To determine a female doctor's status in modern Russian healthcare, as well as to evaluate gender inequality among doctors based on a survey conducted among medical students, residents, and doctors. METHODS: The authors drew up a questionnaire and surveyed medical students, residents, and doctors to estimate the position of a woman doctor in modern Russian medical society. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents consider gender inequality to exist in medicine; they have encountered the existing stereotypes at work. Tackling the gender discrimination problem by talking to an offender turned out to be the main solution. It is noted that one of the gender stereotypes is associated with the multifunctional social role of women, which causes others to question women's choice of medical profession. At the same time, the majority of respondents believe that building a career in medicine alongside having a family is difficult for both women and men; 30% of respondents say that women experience more difficulties. It is reported that women, unlike men, consider gender a limiting factor when choosing a narrow specialization. The desire to get a leadership position is more common among men (70% of men and 59% of women). The main reason for the reluctance is indifference to leadership positions. The majority of respondents (78%) are not ready to introduce feminitives to ensure gender-inclusive medical professions titles. Despite gender discrimination against female doctors, the majority of respondents (61%) positively assess the future achievement of absolute gender equality in Russian healthcare. CONCLUSION: The paper concluded the position of a woman doctor in Russia is still far from being respectable and poorly compared to that of a male doctor.