Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Unconscious gender bias is built into all of us. There was one story about two doctors who were walking along the hospital’s corridors wearing surgical scrubs, and someone asked the woman ‘Nurse, where is the ward?’ The man said he’s never been called a nurse.
RESEARCH CITED YESTERDAY indicates that a doctor’s gender can still be a huge block to their career – especially when it comes to family commitments.
Yesterday, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Bar of Ireland discussed why there were lower rates of women in certain roles within their profession.
It included a 2016 survey of over 519 doctors from GP practices and hospitals in order to measure how urgent gender-related problems are among Irish healthcare professionals.
Some of the more stark findings were:
Dr Ann Hogan of the Irish Medical Organisation told TheJournal.ie that there’s still the impression that there are ‘female skills’ that make women more suited to certain roles.
There’s a very small number of female consultant surgeons, but women are well-represented in general practice, psychiatry, and public nursing.
She says that this may be due to a lack of role models in certain specialties in the healthcare sector.
“One women in my class did surgical training, and then diverted into radiology. None of the women are working in surgery now, as far as I know, while several men are.”
Certain specialties have very low numbers of female consultants, and only 15% of consultant surgeons are women.
Family doctor
Another issue that needs to be addressed was supporting medical professionals achieve a balance between work and their personal lives.
Hogan said that she was ‘disappointed’ to see from the study that 50% of young female doctors said they felt they were ‘mainly responsible’ for family duties, while that figure was zero for young male doctors.
She said that to encourage women to go for the position of surgeon, the supports need to be in place for their out-of-work lives.
“Being a surgeon involves long hours, being on call have to go to work at unsocial hours, so a person doing that needs their family to support them at home, and there are very, very few women working as surgeons.”
Nearly half of female medical practitioners have delayed having children for reasons related to their careers in medicine compared to just 19% of male medical practitioners.
Although the solution to this isn’t immediate or obvious, it could be as simple as making female trainees aware of all their options, and making part-time work more widely available.
But when it comes to issues of sexism, bullying and harassment, Hogan is clear – talk about it with someone and don’t keep it a secret.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Thoughts and prayers are with you all. I would think you are probably better off self isolating for the foreseeable future. Sone people still think this is over hyped and will stand inline in supermarkets for an hour with hundreds of others having no idea how dangerous it is
@jerry slattery: couldn’t agree more.
Listen to this expert on Joe Rogan.
@jerry slattery: it’s not over hype…but people do still need to buy stuff. For many reasons.
If someone is vulnerable and might have to self isolate,then they are gonna have to have some kind of food stock etc.
People doing their normal shopping.
And people just going in for their couple of bits. Going in and buying a whole aisle of beans and toilet paper is ridiculous. But if we were to go by what your saying,we be starved to death or people who will be self isolateing would have nothing at home or anyway of getting it
@jerry slattery: do a bit of gaming and streaming online with some friends its very socialable with the danger
@Matthew O’Kane ☘️✊#ONLYBERNIEBEATSTRUMP: without
Thanks for article Benat.
.
Govt should run ad campaign with each ad focusing on a high risk individual like yourself
I cant work from home, so I’m one of the people that still have to get on public transport for work. Yesterday the utter stupidity I was witnessing in Dublin is beyond belief. Some people have not got a clue about basic hygiene let alone what they should be doing now! Guy on the bus touching all the hand rails on tha bus. Sits down and starts to eat with his hands and lick his fingers clean. People waiting in line at shops breathing down each others necks. Packed pubs in Temple Bar. Choughing without covering their mouth. A person in a deli, wearing gloves but wiping their face and then going to serve the next person. I’m doing my best to keep myself and any others I have to interact with as safe as possible but, we seem to be a minority.
@Sea Graham: buy a bicycle if possible. Stay safe
@Philip King ⚡️: would if I could. I live in the back of beyond in relation to work.
@Sea Graham: I hate the bus too. public transport is bad at the best of time and this situation amplifies it. People are thick is seems. The amount of people who still won’t cover their mouth when coughing is crazy. I saw a child lick a window this week (the child was just being a child) but the parent was watching and thought it was hilarious. I said “you’d want to be careful” to the parent in a friendly manner and was given a dirty look. You can’t win against that mentality.
@Sean Ryan: the only up side is that what is normally a 3-4 hour daily commute is down to down to an hour and 20 because of people working from home and schools closed.
@Sea Graham: yes, it’s an ill wind…
@Sea Graham: I actually can work from home so I guess I’m one of the lucky ones. But you’re right on the money. How on earth can social distancing work in a night club? Imagine all those young people staying 3 feet away from each other while dancing. Or shouting in each others ears because of loud music. Hey sit everyone in a restaurant 3 feet away from each other while the waiting staff – who of necessity have to breach the 3ft rule – move freely between them. Something has not been thought through properly here. Stay safe.
You young people with CF have been constantly in my thoughts. I’ve tried to remind my family not to be blithe with their words saying “it’s just a cold” “what’s all the fuss” etc. Only the other day I realised after a while the lady I was talking to had a 21 son with CF. It’s serious for so many people.
As a kidney dialysis patient, I am also compromised. So much so that I have to miss my own mothers funeral this weekend
@Liam Higgins: very, very, sorry to hear that Liam. That is the extremely hard reality you are facing, I am in a high risk group myself and it is all very worrying. RIP to your mum
@Liam Higgins: gosh that is really awful for you but she’d want you to stay safe. Condolences on the death of your mother RIP
@Liam Higgins: please accept my sincere condolences on your mothers passing. This must be heart breaking for you especially. You have to though think of your own health now and protect yourself the very best you can. The country is full of self interest only people who’s ignorance and behaviour is beyond their thinking capabilities. Look after yourself and please god we will all get through this crisis together from another person with a compromised immune system..
We ALL have to follow the Expert advice like Benat has said not just for the sake of ourselves and our families and friends but for our communities and those in the vulnerable Catergories which includes children and not just older people with underlying conditions.We have to keep other people safe as well as ourselves.
There was a special Late Late show last night mostly about the situation we’re facing right down with tips,advice and information.It showed what to do if someone in your house has to self isolate &it had different rooms and showed what to do in each room.The programme also showed what to do with the person’s laundry, rubbish,meals,etc.It was excellent &worth watching.
Benat,thank you so much for your article reminding us that children and people in vulnerable catergories need us to act responsibly together to do our best to keep them safe from cross infection.
@Nuala Mc Namara: but on social media the usual piss take about their efforts to educate us we are moronic
@Woolly: just ignore the ass holes whose brains are up their arse. If they were in the category of those most at risk they would be singing a different song you can take that to the bank.
Can believe UK have thrown real people like yourself, Benat, to the dogs with their herd immunity approach and ignoring what worked in Asia.
My heart goes out to you and all CF patients.. it’s so worrying for you now, keep well
It’s not just Cf. I work with the public and I’ve got Rheumatoid Arthritis. I’m on an immunosuppressant so I’m vulnerable. At the same time I’ve a mortgage and bills to pay. I’m sure there’s a lot more conditions out there and many more people in a similar situation than first realised.
Unfortunately many people don’t get it through their thick heads until they or loved ones are affected . Might have two weeks off but instead of isolation on behave of others even they want to go clubbing or out like Christmas came early.
Immunosuppressed myself and it does make you somewhat paranoid – though in this case, they ARE after you. At least, I already have the mindset of avoiding illness. Should you seal yourself in or live as normally as possible?
@Conall: I know what you mean, it’s a hard call! I’d seal in for a few weeks anyway and maybe judge it again then!
Stay safe x
If you know any selfish people taking a cavalier attitude to do this, send them a link to this article.
So- do you know what’s been happening to CF patients in China & Italy, please?
@James Coyle: the Italian government seem to be abandoning their citizens and as for China they are just spouting bs. They don’t take care of their own at the best of times
Very good points Benat hoping you can stay clear of this. It must be a horribly worrying time for you and all your family. Please people cop on and do what you’re told.
Well done Benny great article x
have your say