Equality in the Olympus of medicine

Equality issues certainly play a part in your day-to-day work in a medical practice. So let’s talk about it! Why is it increasingly necessary to address the issue of equality in healthcare? A glance at the statistics is all it takes. Although the majority of medical graduates from Swiss universities (and abroad) are women, there are still fewer female practitioners than men after university. 👩‍⚕️

More trained women, but fewer female leaders. Where is the equality?

Swiss universities were among the first to allow women to study medicine. It was more than 150 years ago that Marie Heim-Vögtlin became the first Swiss woman to obtain a medical degree from the University of Zurich. Yet Switzerland still has some way to go when it comes to equality.

When a woman chooses to pursue a career in medicine, she often comes up against rigid gender roles. The higher she climbs the ladder, the more solid the glass ceiling becomes. At all age levels, women are under-represented in senior positions.

Certain medical specialities, such as surgery, leave even less room for female careers. In this field, men largely dominate, with over 90% of surgeons in many disciplines.

What can women do to assert themselves in the medical field?

Raising awareness of equality issues

It is essential for both women and men to recognise the importance of equality. Events such as International Women’s Rights Day are a good opportunity to draw attention to these issues and talk to those affected. Whether we talk about it or not, these inequalities exist. So it’s important to have the courage to name them and discuss them with other women. Have you ever wondered how your colleague or employee perceives the position of women in the medical field?

Organisation, the key to balance

Good organisation of family life is essential to ease the burden on working women. It is important to ensure that children are looked after, whether by a nanny or a crèche. Clear communication and mutual support within the family are essential if all members are to meet their personal needs.

Networking for equality: connecting and inspiring

It is often beneficial for women to build up a network. Mentoring schemes can be useful at all stages of a career, enabling less experienced women to learn from more experienced colleagues. Developing your own network and actively maintaining it can be a great help. Even if you’re already well established as a doctor, or even running your own practice, it’s still a good idea to keep in close contact with your colleagues.

Communicate your needs clearly

As a female doctor, it’s important to be able to express your needs clearly and display a confident attitude. Studies show that people with a deep voice or greater stature, generally men, are more successful or are listened to more in meetings, especially at senior management level. These biological and cultural differences between men and women are not necessarily negative. On the contrary, as a woman you need to be aware of your impact and communicate your desires and expectations assertively.