Gender and the Balance of Parenting and Professional Life among Gynecology Subspecialists

Abstract

Study objective: To compare the parenting and career patterns of female and male gynecology subspecialists.

Design: Cross-sectional survey study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting: Survey administered electronically in February 2015 to physician members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American Urogynecologic Society.

Participants: All physician members of the 3 national gynecology subspecialty organizations listed above.

Measurements and main results: There were 75 questions in 4 domains: demographics, mentoring issues, work-life balance, and caregiving responsibilities. Data were analyzed for survey sampling weights. Six hundred seventy-seven physicians completed the survey, 62% of whom were women (n = 420; 20.2% response rate). Sixty-four percent were aged 36 to 55 years. Eighty-two percent of respondents had at least 1 child, and men had more children than women (42% of men had 3 or more children compared with 20% of women, p <.0001). Thirty-seven percent of women reported that career plans affected the decision to become a parent somewhat or very much compared with 23% of men (p = .0006). Eighty-three percent of women believed career affected the timing of becoming a parent somewhat or very much compared with 48% of men (p <.0001). In addition, 76% of female physicians perceived that having children decreased their academic productivity compared with 54% of male physicians (p <.0001). Most men and women believed having children had no effect or increased their clinical performance (76% and 65%, respectively), but this was significantly lower in women (p = .01).

Conclusion: Female gynecology subspecialists perceive that their career impacted decisions on parenting more frequently than their male counterparts. They were also more likely than men to report that having children had a negative impact on academic and, to a lesser extent, clinical performance. Increased support for combining childbirth and parenting with training and academic careers is needed.

Keywords: Gender differences; Gynecologic surgical subspecialties; Parenting; Work–life balance; Work–life integration.