PERCEPTION OF HARASSMENT AMONG FEMALE SURGEONS

Rev Col Bras Cir. 2021 Aug 30:48:e20213123. doi: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20213123. eCollection 2021.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Introduction: the attraction of women by Surgery has always existed. Although Surgery has been considered a specialty for men, several women chose it, despite gender bias issues that have persisted over many years. Several obstacles have impacted the practice of women surgeons, leading them to abandon the profession, while others, perhaps bearers of a stronger spirit, managed to overcome them, and won.

Objective: to assess the rates of perception of harassment against female surgeons as a cause of difficulty and negative feelings related to the specialty.

Methods: we conducted a quantitative and qualitative (personal accounts) research through a questionnaire via Google Forms® sent to all women surgeons registered in the Brazilian College of Surgeons and in a WhatsApp women surgeons' groups. The qualitative analysis was made with the Wordle® app.

Results: from 821 questionnaires sent, we obtained 232 responses (28.2%). Harassment perception during training was 49.1% (n=114). From the women surgeons who perceived harassment, 56.1% reported having undergone different training than expected, with statistical significance (p<0.001). The question of having been treated differently due to being a woman also had an impact on harassment perception (77.2% harassed vs 47.5%; p<0.001). Physical (42.1% vs 6.8%) and emotional (92.1% vs 39.8%) threats were also different between groups.

Conclusion: women surgeons still report great harassment perception, both moral and sexual, which impacts their feelings about the specialty.

Introdução:: a atração das mulheres pela Cirurgia sempre existiu. Embora a Cirurgia seja considerada especialidade para homens, várias mulheres a escolheram, apesar de questões de preconceito de gênero que têm se mantido ao longo de vários anos. Vários obstáculos têm impactado na prática das cirurgiãs, levando-as a abandonar a profissão, mas outras, talvez, as de espírito mais forte, conseguiram superá-los e venceram.

Objetivo:: avaliar a taxas de percepção de assédio contra cirurgiãs como causa de dificuldade e sentimentos negativos relacionados com a especialidade.

Método:: pesquisa, quantitativa e qualitativa (relatos pessoais), realizada por meio de questionário via Google Forms® enviado para todas as cirurgiãs registradas no Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões e em grupo WhatsApp de cirurgiãs. A análise qualitativa foi feita com o aplicativo Wordle®.

Resultados:: Foram enviados 821 questionários e obtidas 232 respostas (28,2%). A percepção de assédio durante o treinamento foi de 49.1% (n=114). As cirurgiãs com percepção de assédio foram estatisticamente aquelas que reportaram ter tido treinamento diferente do que ansiavam (56,1%) (p<0,001). O quesito tratamento distinto por ser mulher também impactou na percepção do assédio (77,2% assediadas vs 47,5%; p<0,001). Ameaça física (42,1% vs 6,8%) e emocional (92,1% vs 39,8%) também foram distintas entre os grupos.

Conclusão:: cirurgiãs ainda reportam grande percepção de assédio moral e sexual, o que impacta na forma de encarar a profissão.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Perception
  • Sexism
  • Sexual Harassment*
  • Surgeons*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires