Exploring Career Barriers Faced by Female Doctors Due to Gender Bias: A Qualitative Analysis
Gender Bias and Career Barriers for Female Doctors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51846/jucmd.v4iS.3673Abstract
Objectives: To explore the experiences of female doctors in facing and overcoming gender-related career barriers and the roles of male colleagues.
Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study, conducted at a private medical college in Lahore, Pakistan, from August 2023 to July 2024, involved 13 faculty members (8 females, 5 males) selected through purposive and snowball sampling across various specialties. Female doctors who had experienced delayed promotions or held leadership positions, and male doctors with experience supervising or working alongside female colleagues, participated in semi-structured interviews. An interview guide, informed by key themes from existing literature on gender studies in the medical field, directed discussions on career advancement barriers, strategies to overcome them, and the roles of male doctors in supporting female colleagues. Inductive thematic analysis of the transcripts identified patterns and themes within the data.
Results: The analysis resulted in three overarching themes and eleven subthemes. Theme one ‘Systemic barriers’ highlighted the challenges faced by female doctors in career advancement in the form of discriminatory practices, societal expectations, and the lack of mentorship. Theme two focused on the ‘professional empowerment strategies’ for female doctors, emphasizing on developing interpersonal skills, building expertise, and engaging in leadership trainings. Third theme elaborated the supportive role of male doctors in promoting gender equity at workplace through mentorship, acknowledgment of achievements, and creating a safe working environment for females.
Conclusion: This study identified the barriers hindering professional growth of female doctors. It highlights the need of mentorship, empowerment strategies, and the supportive roles of male doctors in advancing gender equity. Implementing these strategies can lead to a more equitable healthcare system.
Keywords: gender equity, gender bias, gender discrimination, mentorship, phenomenological study.
All three authors served as faculty members at FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore, during the time this study was conducted.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Anam Zahra, Tayyaba Azhar, Hajra Talat
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