Most female physicians (more than 75 percent) have experienced some form of gender discrimination, including wage discrimination, according to a survey from physician search firm Merritt Hawkins.
The survey is based on responses from 429 female physicians. Four key takeaways:
1. Of the physicians surveyed who had experienced discrimination, it most commonly came in the form of inappropriate actions or words from peers (75 percent) and managers or employers (57 percent), or wage discrimination (56 percent).
2. Forty percent of those surveyed said they are being paid less than their male peers, most commonly due to a smaller base salary and/or production bonus. According to Merritt Hawkins, this means pay differentials are likely starting early in physicians' careers.
3. Most women felt they were paid less due to unconscious bias (76 percent) and many (68 percent) also said they felt female physicians were less aggressive in negotiating their salaries.
4. The findings are critical because nearly 3 in 4 respondents said the gender discrimination they had experienced at work negatively affected their morale and career satisfaction.
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