Female and male physicians in academic medicine: Is work-life balance still an issue?

Abstract

Over the last few decades the number of female students enrolling to study medicine has been constantly rising (e.g. Hamel et al. 2006: 310; Buckley et al. 2000: 283; Crompton/Le Feuvre 2003: 38-43; Nonnemaker 2000: 400-401). However, barriers for women in medicine still exist and are reflected by the smaller numbers of women in higher positions (Hamel et al. 2006: 310-311; Buckley et al. 2000: 284; Carnes/Morissey/Geller 2008: 1455-1456; Nonnemaker 2000: 401-404) and the unequal distribution of men and women within one profession (sex segregation), for example women are more likely to be in primary care (Burgess et al. 2012: 508).