A pilot study of gender inequalities related to radiography education and career progression

Why do students choose the medical radiation science profession?

“…The most important factors in students' decisions to enter these professions were a desire to help others and the nature of the work. 5 In a UK study by Payne (1998), gender differences relating to choice of a radiography career were evaluated. Employment opportunities were a determining factor with regard to career choice, since most students wanted to work as a radiographer after graduation.…”

“…In addition, none of the students indicated an early childhood ambition to study radiography, indicating radiography may not have been their first choice of career. 6 A study by Akroyd and Lavin (1992) examined career and program choice of radiography students in the USA, and found that the most important factor in career choice was the availability of work. The second most important factor affecting career choice was nature of the work, followed by opportunity to help people, advancement opportunities, and financial rewards.…”

Understanding the humanistic interaction with medical imaging technology

“…28.0 Career development and technology (Payne, 1998) The main influence in determining a career pathway was an interest in the images (Rad 2, 5, and 7). Whether image quality and cross-sectional anatomy can be categorised as `technological factors' is debateable, but most, if not all radiographers' careers were influenced by technology and a desire to work with people.…”

“…One study clearly showed that a higher number of male radiographers were promoted in a city teaching hospital that was linked directly to a medical school. This fact may, it is suggested, `impart.. a more rigid patriarchal control' (Payne, 1998 However, Cockburn (1985) believed that this gendered dichotomy had returned; she reported that this tension between `technology and caring' had resurfaced, now that male radiographers were once again a growing minority. A more recent study (Payne, 1998) for example, showed that male students placed more emphasis on the technological side of -the profession.…”

“…This fact may, it is suggested, `impart.. a more rigid patriarchal control' (Payne, 1998 However, Cockburn (1985) believed that this gendered dichotomy had returned; she reported that this tension between `technology and caring' had resurfaced, now that male radiographers were once again a growing minority. A more recent study (Payne, 1998) for example, showed that male students placed more emphasis on the technological side of -the profession. With information technology skills being widespread within radiography today, this point clearly needs further deliberation.…”