Dr. Wu recently attended the American Medical Association
meeting in Chicago, representing the women physician section on the
governing council. A significant topic of discussion was women's
pay inequity. A 2018 JAMA Cardiology study by R.U Shah revealed a
$2.5 million lifetime pay gap between male and female cardiologists
in the U.S., using Medicare data. In 2022, V.L. Crosa's study in
Argentina reported that 58% of women cardiologists experienced
violence compared to 10% of men, highlighting global issues. S.M.
Temkin's June 2024 article in Social Science and Medicine noted
that female doctors receive fewer referrals, contributing to pay
inequity, and face "untitling," where their titles are not used,
belittling their accomplishments.
These disparities extend beyond medicine into other professions.
Women are often advised to pursue non-surgical specialties due to
subconscious gender norms, and this bias affects their career
progression. Despite societal advancements, women in various
fields, including sports, still earn less than their male
counterparts. For instance, male athletes earn significantly more
in sports like golf and soccer, though tennis shows near parity.
These persistent issues emphasize the need for ongoing efforts to
address gender pay inequality as we move further into the 21st
century. Thank you for tuning in to "Doctors Take the Mic."
References:
Shah, RU. The $2.5 million wage gap in Cardiology. JAMA
Cardiology, 2018.
Crosa, VL. Labor equity, gender violence and cardiovascular risk
factors in cardiology specialists. Rev Argentina, 2022.