Testing for Implicit Gender Bias among Plastic Surgeons

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine for the presence of implicit bias within the field of plastic surgery using a gender-specific Implicit Association Test (IAT), specifically looking at gender and career stereotypes. Methods: A Gender-Career/Family Implicit Association Test was developed and distributed to the international plastic surgery community. Mean scores were calculated. Respondents were provided with an automated summary interpretation of their results, categorizing association for a particular grouping of gender and career/family as a little or no, slight, moderate, or strong. Respondents were also asked a series of demographic and post-IAT questions. Results: Ninety-five responses were available for analysis. Overall, respondents showed a moderate-to-strong association of male + career / female + family compared with the reverse, which was statistically significant. Nearly half of the respondents thought they might have an implicit gender-related bias; however, 50% post-test would not change their behavior based on results, while 9.5% would. Conclusions: Plastics surgeons may have an unconscious tendency to associate men with a career and women with a family. Further steps must be taken to increase awareness and mitigate the impact of implicit gender bias.