Men surgeons' perceptions of women surgeons: is there a bias against women in surgery?

Background: Surgery has long been a man-dominated discipline with gender roles traditionally defined along societal norms. Presumably, as society has evolved, so have men surgeons' perceptions of women surgeons, though data are lacking. This study was undertaken to determine if men surgeons' perceptions of women surgeons represent a bias against women in Surgery.

Methods: 190 men surgeons were queried about attitudes toward women surgeons utilizing a validated questionnaire. The survey included binary, multiple choice, and Likert scale questions (1 = definitely disagree to 5 = definitely agree).

Results: 84% of the men surgeons have been attending surgeons for more than 5 years; 80% deem women surgeons as capable as their man colleagues. 80% of respondents consider it possible for a woman to be a good surgeon, mother, and spouse; however, 76% believe women surgeons experience more pressure to balance work and family. 75% of the men surgeons think women surgeons have the same advancement opportunities as men, though 30% believe gender discrimination exists in Surgery. 45% of the respondents consider the "surgical discipline" accountable for fewer women finishing training, yet 57% think the rate of women entering Surgery is not a problem to address.

Conclusion: While most men surgeons have favorable opinions of the personal and professional abilities of women surgeons, favorable opinions are not universal; a bias against women persists in Surgery. Considering most medical students today are women, the discipline of Surgery dismisses this talent pool only to its detriment. Surgery, and men in Surgery specifically, must evolve to eliminate bias against women in Surgery, promoting an equitable and inclusive work environment for the betterment of Surgery and all its stakeholders, including patients.