By Camellia Russell
Biological sex is an unchangeable aspect of who we are, yet it continues to shape the opportunities we encounter throughout life. Despite progress, many cultures and societies still espouse old-fashioned beliefs about gender roles, especially when it comes to leadership. In particular, women are often expected to prioritize home life over career ambitions, with roles like “leader” or “surgeon” still largely reserved for men in many fields.
Medicine, in particular, has needed to evolve faster. While women now make up approximately 20-25% of surgeons in the United States, this percentage still needs to be equitable. Women surgeons often face daily challenges, from juggling demanding work schedules with motherhood and family to battling deep-seated biases. Also, many patients may look at female surgeons as less capable or skilled than their male counterparts due to long-standing gender stereotypes.
According to research from the University of Kansas, women in academic medicine are less likely to be promoted than their male peers. Women are 24% less likely than men to gain promotion to associate professor, 23% less apt to achieve full professor status, and 54% less likely to become department chairs. These statistics are a stark reminder that women must strive harder than men to prove themselves capable. Furthermore, even with that extra effort, promotion is still being determined for many females in academics. Additionally, male colleagues may further hinder women’s advancement by subverting their authority and disputing their decisions.
According to psychologists, this systematic bias can bring about what is known as “learned helplessness.” When women keep running up against barriers and see no tangible progress after all their hard work, they will despair, eventually either dropping out of their careers or scaling back their efforts to match the kind of minimal performance that produces results.
This culture of discrimination not only affects the women fighting to succeed today but also sends a damaging message to the younger generation. Without female role models in leadership positions, young women find it harder to visualize themselves holding down those posts, and the cycle of non representation persists.
Such deeply ingrained bias not only affects career advancement but can also subject women to lasting psychological damage. The stereotypes and expectations imposed on women give rise to discrimination, harassment, and a pervasive erosion of trust within the profession.
Hence, current female medicine leaders are responsible for breaking free from these constraints. They can create a more inclusive and empowering environment by changing public perceptions, mentoring the next generation, and challenging outdated norms. As Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Women in medicine should keep dreaming big, never give up, and redefine what is impossible.
Resources
Kimber P. Richter, Ph.D., MPH, K., Clark, M.S, L., Wick, Ph.D, J. A., Cruvinel, Ph.D, E., Durham, Ph.D, D., Shaw, M.D, P., Shih, M.D, G. H., Befort, Ph.D, C. A., & Simari, M.D., R. D. (2020, November 25). Women in academic medicine remain less likely to be promoted, according to a KU medical center study in Nejm. University of Kansas Medical Center. https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/nejm-women.html
Bio: Camellia Russell is a passionate medical student and emerging leader in podiatric medicine, known for her holistic, interdisciplinary approach to care. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA, and she is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at Temple University’s College of Podiatric Medicine. Camellia has presented nationally recognized research on diabetic foot care and actively leads community health initiatives focused on education and prevention. Fluent in three languages and deeply committed to equity, she aims to transform care delivery for underserved populations through innovation, advocacy, and compassionate leadership.
Instagram: @camelliainmed
Thank you for this article. It is well written and remains a sad reality of the life of a female surgeon. The question remains, what do we do about this? Highlighting these gaps have only gotten us so far and is no longer sufficient, nor do I believe that rectifying the situation to be the be the responsibility of female leaders who are also fighting their own battles. Rather, it is the responsibility of the surgical societies as a whole and of other professional organizations to require standards from institutions that still support the concept of the old guard.