Gender and academic promotion of Canadian general surgeons: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ender disparity in academic promotion has been investigated among physicians in the United States. 1,2 After age, experience, specialty and research productivity are accounted for, women are less likely than men to be full professors. 2 Markers suggestive of inequity, defined as a lack of fairness, in academia also exist among Canadian professors, with women representing only 27.6% of full professors 3 and receiving on average $10 263 less than men in annual salary. 4 In addition, women account for just 12% of faculty of medicine deans. 5 With respect to specialty-specific disparity, the barriers faced by women are more pronounced in surgical careers. 6 Despite recent increases, women still represent only 27% of Canadian surgeons 7 and an even lower proportion of academic surgeons. 6 Studies show consistent challenges faced by women, such as the perception of fewer career advancement opportunities, 8 suboptimal maternity leave and child care, 7,9 gender-based discrimination, 10 an "old boys' club" culture of practice 11 and a lack of female mentors. 12,13 Despite similarities in gender disparity within Canadian and US academia, perhaps the long-standing female majority among medical graduates and increased proportion of female surgical trainees in Canada have allowed for the correction of the inequities of the previous era (i.e., the pipeline effect).

Gender imbalance amongst promotion and leadership in academic surgical programs in Canada: A cross-sectional Investigation

“…This study joins others among surgical subspecialties in highlighting ongoing gender disparity with regards to women surgeons within academia [ 32 – 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 – 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 – 58 , 64 ]. While our investigation highlights the current Canadian environment, the themes of ongoing gender disparity are not isolated to this country; with specific studies noting that inequities exist in Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery and General surgery across North America, the EU and Oceania [ 39 , 45 , 46 , 65 , 66 ].…”

“…There is very limited data examining the gender distribution and achievements of Canadian surgeons. Of the existing Canadian research, it has been shown that women surgeons are less likely to ascend to higher ranks of academic faculty or to leadership positions, and they make statistically significantly less money than their men colleagues [ 41 , 58 , 59 ].…”

The experiences of female surgeons around the world: a scoping review

“…[ 88 ] High income United States Retrospective review Not reported 2020 Gender and academic promotion of Canadian general surgeons: a cross-sectional study. [ 89 ] High income Canada Cross-sectional analysis n = 405 (111/294) 27% Not reported 2020 Gender Disparities Among Burn Surgery Leadership. [ 90 ] High income United States Cross-sectional analysis n = 581 (58/523) 10% No funding 2020 Gender Disparity Among Surgical Peer-Reviewed Literature.…”

Making medical leadership more diverse

“…Gender and ethnicity based disparities in medicine have been documented for over 30 years 8. Disparities in promotion,9 compensation,1011 discrimination,1112 and harassment13 that disadvantage women and racialised physicians have been found in every setting and specialty where such inequities have been studied.…”