Men: we need to talk about gender
The way men practise masculinity has huge consequences for the medical profession
“A feminist is a man or woman who thinks there is a problem with gender… and we must fix it. We must do better.” Chimamanda Adichie
Note that she did not specify that it was a woman’s role to take on this responsibility. Overall the majority of women simply do not call themselves feminists, so how can men? How can men help drive women’s rights forward and is it even needed? They’ve got feminism, haven’t they? To begin, let me tell you a story.
It was lunchtime and as one of the female GPs was going on maternity leave, we discussed whether men should take their paternity leave. I replied unequivocally that I would take paternity leave and that all men should take it. Only a minority of men take paternity leave. I was called ‘caring’ for this: this is unusual since caring simply is not part of ‘traditional’ masculinity. I asked myself could I be a man AND be caring? Or was I effeminate and did that make me less of man?
This is an example of a gendered double standard, highlighted by Katie Knight, and expanded upon in Chimamanda Adichie’s address. “A man is confident, a woman is arrogant…a man is assertive, a woman is aggressive.” We want women to rise but not too much outside society’s expectations. This is gender bias. The sharp end of gender bias was highlighted in the British Medical Association’s (BMA) recent report which revealed widespread verbal and physical harassment directed towards women and a lack of female representation on many BMA committees. The report outlines several recommendations including minimum quotas on committees and equality training. We need to talk about affirmative action: hiring one out of two well-qualified candidates specifically because they are a woman warrants further discussion. Can we achieve equality and culture change via equity? Only time will tell.
The statistics on women and their position in the medical workplace makes for grim reading. Candidates for American Board of Surgery exams who were married with children were 10 times more likely to fail compared to those who were single. Many would attribute this to having more domestic and caring responsibilities which is associated with greater career dissatisfaction in physician mothers whose jobs included performing procedures. Female doctors are seen to be less competent as compared to their male colleagues by nursing staff, and female consultants less likely to be identified as leaders compared to male consultants. Only 19% of women make up higher surgical trainees, specialist doctors and surgical consultants.

It is women that are directly and indirectly disadvantaged by the actions of men. Men will argue that any argument so unilateral cannot be complete. Surely being a man is disadvantageous too. Jess Butcher explains how being a man comes with its own set of problems: higher rates of suicide, lower life expectancy, longer criminal sentences for the same crime and higher death rate in crime and war compared to women. This argument is not about competitive victimhood. It’s about having a workforce that reflects the diversity of our patient population. Men with greater exposure to female colleagues and experience of treating female patients is associated with decreased mortality in treating acute myocardial infarction in women, compared to those with less exposure.
For men how can we support women without disempowering them? Some of the following suggestions relate to a heterosexual monogamous relationship but ignore homosexuality and nuances of gender fluidity. I can only apologise. As men we must:
1. Disturb the status quo — put an end to locker room talk. Challenge men who speak disrespectfully about women. Stop men who verbally or physically harass women. Ask yourself if you would tolerate this behaviour directed to women you care about? Every micro-disturbance of the status quo is a change for the positive. How do you speak truth to power especially when it’s your boss? Use the Vanderbilt method and start with a cup of coffee.
2. Help out in the second shift, if you don’t already. Women in the world do the overwhelming amount of unpaid care. If you live with a woman: it’s not her job to do the house/care-work. Do some of the household chores: it might make you live longer. Sheryl Sandberg, notes that it might even improve relations with your partners in the “Biblical sense”. Not convinced? Have a look at these studies: Johnson, Kornrich & Carlson. Having said that same-sex couples were generally better at household chore division.
3. Take your paternity leave if you can afford to as you will not get this time back. You might even share it with your partner. Role model for other men that it’s ok to work less at this time and care about your family — this is part of what I define as being a man.
4. Consider applying a reflective, disruptive & accountable tool such as the Male Champions of Change leadership shadow which promotes gender equality if you are in a leadership role.
