Women in medicine: Women do not have to choose

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.743

BMJ 2004;329:743 (25 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.743

Letter

Women in medicine

Women do not have to choose

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Heath's editorial on the increasing number of womenin medicine and the resulting loss in status and influence ofthe profession was disappointing.¹ She says that the hourlyearnings of male and female doctors are very different. Thisis not surprising, given the higher percentage of men currentlyin senior positions. Are the hourly earnings of male and femalesenior house officers, registrars, and new consultants different?The answer is obviously no. The number of female consultantshas risen by more than 50% in the past 10 years and is set tocontinue to do so.

What is the logic in saying that a feminised profession losesstatus and influence? We cannot compare ourselves with totalitariansocieties such as the Soviet Union. Women do not have to choosebetween personal commitments and professional power. In a workinglife of 40 years, it is not a matter of great . . . [Full text of this article]

Clarissa Fabre, honorary secretary

Medical Women's Federation, London WC1H 9HX cdfabre@yahoo.co.uk