Heeyoung Han1, Yujin Kim2, Sehoon Kim3, Yonjoo Cho4, Chungil Chae5. 1. Department of Medical Education, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA. 2. University-Industry Foundation, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA. 4. Department of Instructional Systems Technology, School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. 5. Applied Cognitive Science Lab, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Gender inequality remains prevalent worldwide in academic medicine. A closer look into women physicians' gendered experiences through the lens of culture is necessary to advance understanding of gender inequality in this context. Relatively few studies, however, have investigated how social and cultural practices implicitly yet significantly affect gender inequality throughout women physicians' careers. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of South Korean women physicians working in academic medicine and to focus on social and cultural influences on the gendered process of their career journeys. The study will extend our understanding of gender inequality in academic medicine through an in-depth analysis of social and cultural practices that affect the phenomenon. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study utilising a grounded theory approach. Twenty-one women physicians participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed through a process of constant comparison using grounded theory to extract themes. RESULTS: Junior women physicians were more vulnerable to gender discrimination and channelled to 'ghettos' through the seniority-based, patriarchal, collectivist and business hospital culture in South Korea. Under pressure to excel at work, they had no work-family balance and experienced identity crises as competent doctors and mothers. They felt themselves to be 'othered' in multiple cultural contexts, including school ties, rankism and a culture of after-work gatherings. Minimal levels of leadership aspiration created a vicious cycle of a lack of social networking and mentoring. Pursuing individual excellence, they attributed their struggles to personal choices and rarely sought organisational support. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of cultural and social practices constantly and implicitly recreate mechanisms to maintain gender inequality in academic medicine in South Korea. Planned culture changes at individual, organisational and national levels are imperative to discontinue the vicious cycle that exists in the labyrinth of women physicians' career development in academic medicine.
CONTEXT: Gender inequality remains prevalent worldwide in academic medicine. A closer look into women physicians' gendered experiences through the lens of culture is necessary to advance understanding of gender inequality in this context. Relatively few studies, however, have investigated how social and cultural practices implicitly yet significantly affect gender inequality throughout women physicians' careers. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of South Korean women physicians working in academic medicine and to focus on social and cultural influences on the gendered process of their career journeys. The study will extend our understanding of gender inequality in academic medicine through an in-depth analysis of social and cultural practices that affect the phenomenon. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study utilising a grounded theory approach. Twenty-one women physicians participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed through a process of constant comparison using grounded theory to extract themes. RESULTS: Junior women physicians were more vulnerable to gender discrimination and channelled to 'ghettos' through the seniority-based, patriarchal, collectivist and business hospital culture in South Korea. Under pressure to excel at work, they had no work-family balance and experienced identity crises as competent doctors and mothers. They felt themselves to be 'othered' in multiple cultural contexts, including school ties, rankism and a culture of after-work gatherings. Minimal levels of leadership aspiration created a vicious cycle of a lack of social networking and mentoring. Pursuing individual excellence, they attributed their struggles to personal choices and rarely sought organisational support. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of cultural and social practices constantly and implicitly recreate mechanisms to maintain gender inequality in academic medicine in South Korea. Planned culture changes at individual, organisational and national levels are imperative to discontinue the vicious cycle that exists in the labyrinth of women physicians' career development in academic medicine.
Authors: Sherry S Chesak; Manisha Salinas; Helayna Abraham; Courtney E Harris; Elise C Carey; Tejinder Khalsa; Karen F Mauck; Molly Feely; Lauren Licatino; Susan Moeschler; Anjali Bhagra Journal: Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) Date: 2022-03-28