Holly N Sprow1,2,3, Nathaniel F Hansen4,5, Hannah E Loeb4,5, Caroline L Wight4,5, Rolvix H Patterson6,5, Dominique Vervoort7,5, Eliana E Kim8,5, Raphael Greving9,5, Adelina Mazhiqi10,5, Kathryn Wall5, Jacquelyn Corley11,5, Emily Anderson5,12, Kathryn Chu13. 1. Tufts University School of Medicine, 145 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, USA. holly.sprow@tufts.edu. 2. Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA. holly.sprow@tufts.edu. 3. , 365 Washington St, Brighton, MA, 02135, USA. holly.sprow@tufts.edu. 4. Tufts University School of Medicine, 145 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA. 6. Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC, USA. 7. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA. 8. University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, 533 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA, USA. 9. Gießen School of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Ludwigstraße 23, 35390, Gießen, Germany. 10. Ängelholm Hospital, Landshövdingevägen 7E, 262 52, Ängelholm, Sweden. 11. Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC, USA. 12. Department of Neurosurgery, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA, USA. 13. Centre for Global Surgery, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In addition to systemic gender disparities, women in surgery encounter interpersonal microaggressions. The objective of this study is to describe the most common forms of microaggressions reported by women in surgery. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid, and Web of Science to describe the international, indexed English-language literature on gender-based microaggressions experienced by female surgeons, surgical trainees, and medical students in surgery. After screening by title, abstract, and full-text, 37 articles were retained for data extraction and analysis. Microaggressions were analyzed using the Sexist Microaggression Experience and Stress Scale (MESS) framework and stratified by country of origin. RESULTS: Gender-based microaggression publications most commonly originated from the United States (n = 27 articles), Canada (n = 3), and India (n = 2). Gender-based microaggressions were classified into environmental invalidations (n = 20), being treated like a second-class citizen (n = 18), assumptions of traditional gender roles (n = 12), sexual objectification (n = 11), assumptions of inferiority (n = 10), being forced to leave gender at the door (n = 8), and experiencing sexist language (n = 6). Additionally, attendings were more frequently reported to experience microaggressions than surgical trainees and medical students, but more articles reported data on attendings (n = 16) than surgical trainees (n = 10) or students (n = 4). CONCLUSION: While recent advancements have opened the field of surgery to women, there is still a lack of female representation, and persistent microaggressions may perpetuate this gender disparity. Addressing microaggressions against female surgeons is essential to achieving gender equity in surgical practice.
BACKGROUND: In addition to systemic gender disparities, women in surgery encounter interpersonal microaggressions. The objective of this study is to describe the most common forms of microaggressions reported by women in surgery. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid, and Web of Science to describe the international, indexed English-language literature on gender-based microaggressions experienced by female surgeons, surgical trainees, and medical students in surgery. After screening by title, abstract, and full-text, 37 articles were retained for data extraction and analysis. Microaggressions were analyzed using the Sexist Microaggression Experience and Stress Scale (MESS) framework and stratified by country of origin. RESULTS: Gender-based microaggression publications most commonly originated from the United States (n = 27 articles), Canada (n = 3), and India (n = 2). Gender-based microaggressions were classified into environmental invalidations (n = 20), being treated like a second-class citizen (n = 18), assumptions of traditional gender roles (n = 12), sexual objectification (n = 11), assumptions of inferiority (n = 10), being forced to leave gender at the door (n = 8), and experiencing sexist language (n = 6). Additionally, attendings were more frequently reported to experience microaggressions than surgical trainees and medical students, but more articles reported data on attendings (n = 16) than surgical trainees (n = 10) or students (n = 4). CONCLUSION: While recent advancements have opened the field of surgery to women, there is still a lack of female representation, and persistent microaggressions may perpetuate this gender disparity. Addressing microaggressions against female surgeons is essential to achieving gender equity in surgical practice.
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