GENDER EQUITY AMONG GYNECOLOGICAL SURGEONS IS STILL A MYTH: A NATIONAL
SURVEY IN ITALY
Abstract
Objective: this study seeks to examine the status of female
gynecological surgeons in Italy concerning both discriminatory practices
and the availability of opportunities of improvement within the
operating theatre. Design, setting and population: a National
Survey addressed to a group of 3242 female surgeons all over Italy
carried out and approved by the members of “Women in Surgery Italia”.
Methods: the survey was conducted from November 1 to December
31, 2020, gathering data from 219 female gynecologists out of 3242
surveyed across Italy. The survey focused on various professional
aspects, particularly surgical practice. Main outcome measures:
we collected data concerning subjective satisfactions by respondents.
Satisfaction was evaluated with a 5-points LIKERT scale. Data were
described calculating mean, median or frequency. Results: this
sub-analysis includes these 207 respondents. Among respondents, 47%
reported having children, while 31% opted out of parenthood due to
professional reasons. Nearly half of them were trainees (42%). Despite
a considerable workload (with a mean workingweek of 45 hours), 96% of
the participants reported spending less than half of their worktime in
the operating theater. They performed a median of 2 surgical operations
per week, compared to 5 for male counterparts. Despite challenges, 65%
expressed a commitment to their career path. Conclusions:
efforts to address gender bias, promote work-life balance, and enhance
female leadership representation are essential. These findings emphasize
the need for systemic changes to create a supportive environment for
female gynecologists. Further research with broader sampling is
warranted to fully understand and address these challenges.