Nevertheless, They Persisted: How Women Experience Gender-Based Discrimination During Postgraduate Surgical Training

Abstract

Objective: More women than ever are pursuing surgical specialties despite historical dominance by men. The objective of this study was to examine how surgical residents experience gender-based discrimination during their residency training, including the common sources, settings, and implications of these experiences. Design: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used to combine results from an initial quantitative survey of surgical residents of all genders at the University of Calgary with qualitative data derived from interviews with surgical residents who identified as women. Participants: Thirty-seven surgical residents of all genders completed a survey. Fourteen women completed a one-to-one, semistructured interview. Results: Women reported significantly more frequent experiences of gender-based discrimination than men, particularly regarding lack of respect from others, inappropriate jokes or comments, and hostile or humiliating behaviors. Nursing staff and patients were reported as prominent sources of discrimination, and the emergency and operating rooms were the most common settings. The qualitative findings highlighted the additional challenges for women during surgical residency, including navigating the relationships with nursing, having to work “twice as hard” to receive respect from patients and nurses, reports of persistent harassment and bullying, becoming desensitized to mistreatment and discrimination, and the influence of their gender on the quality of their education as well as their well-being. Conclusions: Despite the increasing number of women entering surgical specialties, women surgical residents report frequent and severe experiences of gender-based discrimination during their training, even at an academic institution where over half of residents are women.