Self-advocacy and solidarity in combatting gender bias in medicine

I recently read an article entitled, “Recognizing Blind Spots – A Remedy for Gender Bias in Medicine?” by Loren Rabinowitz. She starts off her piece describing an interaction in which a patient’s wife pushed her aside in favor of speaking to a more junior, male resident who was incapable of completing her request due to his junior status. Although actually qualified to address the request, Dr. Rabinowitz, was overlooked by her patient’s wife and, the junior resident did not bother to clarify the discrepancy. These acts of sexism and similar micro- and macro-aggressions are ubiquitous across our culture, and healthcare is no exception.

    Dr. Rabinowitz goes on to juxtapose the challenges of self-advocacy with their critical importance. She acknowledges that, “perhaps small steps such as taking ownership of our roles as physicians, enlisting allies, and educating our trainees, students, and patients can provide a starting point for the movement toward workplace equality.” I completely agree with her regarding the difficulties and discomfort in clarifying our roles, and I think this is born out of our motivations for pursuing medicine, which are grounded in the genuine provision of care for other people, rather than the nominal authority associated with our titles. Importantly, she notes that clarification is achievable in a way that is respectful to others, kind and compassionate to patients, and defines our roles as medical students or providers. This clarification is important for establishing trust and improving communication which directly impacts care delivery and outcomes. In reflecting on her story and stories of my own, I see that we find strength in solidarity, as it bolsters our care team and communities, and provides support for us when we need it most.

 

Maureen Farrell         DUCOM 2021

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1802228