Women Working in Male-Dominated Specialties
Written by Alisa Malyavko
As the diversity of the medical field expands, a greater percentage of women are entering the medical workplace. Certain specialties such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, neonatal medicine, and psychiatry have a significant percentage of women while other specialties such as general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and neurosurgery have a limited female presence. Entering one of the “male-dominated” fields presents its own challenges that can sometimes be hard to overcome on your own. Listed below are various resources that have been developed to help women navigate these challenges as well as my own tips from trying to make a name for myself in a male-dominated specialty.
Resources and Organizations
Join Female-Led Organizations
Joining various societies and organizations designed to help support women in the medical field is a great way to find mentors, get involved in various opportunities, and form a network of like-minded individuals. These organizations often host various panels, discussions, and events that touch on female-centered topics such as family planning, managing salary discrepancies, and navigating other unique challenges. You can join at any time during your medical training. For medical students and residents, these organizations often have scholarships to help fund research, conferences, and other endeavors. I’ve selected a few organizations to list here:
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
Association of Women Surgeons (AWS)
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS)
American Association of Women Emergency Physicians (Section of ACEP)
Informative Podcasts
Another resource I’ve found useful is podcasts that discuss women in male-dominated fields. Listening to stories of other women who have become successful in these fields despite facing countless challenges is inspiring. Additionally, these podcasts have helped me change how I view certain situations and interactions as well as provide insight into how to overcome various hurdles. Here are some podcast episodes that I’ve found useful:
“Making it to the C-Suite as a Woman: How to Dominate in a Male-Dominant Industry – from Self Assessments to Overcoming Insecurities” by Modern Healthcare featuring Patty McClimon
“Women in Medicine: Be a Superheroine, not a Sidekick” by The Scope of Practice featuring Dr. Barbara Hamilton
“Moving Past Insecurities with Orthopedic Surgeon Jacqueline Brady” by Madam Athlete featuring Dr. Jacqueline Brady
“Work Life Fit: Women In Medicine” by The Curbsiders featuring Dr. Susan Hingle
“Women Working in Male-Dominated Industries (Parts 1 and 2)” by The Fix
Tips:
Find a mentor who you can relate to. Your mentor does not necessarily have to identify the same way as you, but having someone who understands the challenges you may face can be valuable.
Get involved with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. This is a great way to meet with others who have faced challenges during their medical training, learn how they dealt with these, and seek out opportunities such as scholarships, panels, and hands-on events to further your training.
Stay educated and connected. Be sure to follow some of the organizations and resources for women as well as connect with those you meet through school, research, conferences, and elsewhere. It’s good to stay up to date on various opportunities available as well as maintain a network of individuals to look up to!
