“Patriarchy permeating health policymaking”: Influence of gender on involvement in health policymaking from nurse leaders' perspective

Abstract

Despite a greater percentage of women in the healthcare workforce, women are underrepresented in leadership positions. Researchers have examined the influence of gender on women involvement in policy-making and leadership in male-dominated professions. However, no research has explored nurses' perspectives about the role of gender in impacting their involvement in health policymaking in female-dominant profession. This study explores nurse leaders' perspectives on how gender can influence their involvement in health policymaking in Pakistan. Eleven nurse leaders with at least 1 year of experience in policymaking participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: Patriarchy Permeates Health Policymaking; Women's Social Status and Nurses' Involvement in Policymaking; Intentionally Disregarding Nurses' Insights on Policy Forums; Condescending Attitudes Towards Women Nurses on Policy Forums. The underrepresentation of nurses in health policymaking is influenced by gender and social biases and stereotypes against women and the negative social image of the nursing profession. Health-care organizations must play an active role and develop policies to combat gender-based discrimination and curb the underrepresentation of nurses in healthcare policymaking.