Women in medicine have yet to achieve parity compared to their male counterparts, according to a recent survey from Merritt Hawkins, Women in Medicine.
The survey found that three-quarters of female physicians have experienced income inequality or other forms of gender-based discrimination. In fact, the income inequality often starts with their first contracts, according to Merritt Hawkins, which is a company of AMN Healthcare and physician search firm. The income inequality continues despite more women entering the field of medicine.
Among the findings, 75% of female physicians who said they’ve experienced gender-based discrimination have experienced inappropriate words or actions directed toward them from other physicians. Another 57% experienced inappropriate words or actions from managers or employers and 56% have experienced lower compensation than male colleagues.
“Women are entering medicine in record numbers and are having a profound impact on the medical profession,” Travis Singleton, executive vice president of Merritt Hawkins, said in a statement. “However, despite these achievements, female physicians continue to be paid less than their male counterparts and face other forms of workplace discrimination.”
Worse, a significant portion of those exposed to gender discrimination also faced workplace harassment––41% experienced verbal sexual harassment and 14% experienced physical sexual harassment.
The impact of gender-based discrimination is also negative on the careers of women in medicine. A whopping 73% of female physicians said gender discrimination caused them to feel diminished moral and career satisfaction. Another 44% sought a different practice setting, 32% considered early retirement and 29% rethought their choice of career. It could have long-term impacts on the looming physician shortage.
“Gender discrimination is more than just a challenge for individual doctors,” Singleton said. “When it diminishes the overall supply of physicians, it becomes a matter of public health.”
Fortunately, 89% would not discourage young women from entering medicine based in whole or in part on the presence of gender discrimination in the field.
When it came to income, 40% of female physicians said they currently earn less than male physicians in their specialty, and 73% said they received a smaller base salary and/or production bonus than their male peers. Over the course of a career, those differences really add up.
“If this is the case, female physicians could chase that lost income for their entire careers, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process,” Singleton said.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."