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Reflections on the mating pool for women in plastic surgery
Emily B Ridgway1, Tina Sauerhammer, A Portia Chiou
1Boston, Mass. From the Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|December 31, 2013
Summary
Female plastic surgeons often delay marriage due to career demands, leading to a higher likelihood of marrying partners with lower socioeconomic status. This trend reflects a shift from hypergamy to hypogamy in surgical careers.
Area of Science:
- Medical specialties
- Surgical fields
- Plastic surgery
Background:
- Female plastic surgeons exhibit a significantly higher unmarried rate compared to their male counterparts.
- This disparity prompts an investigation into the reasons behind lower marriage rates among women in plastic surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors contributing to the lower likelihood of marriage among female plastic surgeons.
- To understand the relationship between career progression and marital outcomes in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A 52-question anonymous survey was distributed to female members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
- The survey collected data on training, practice, marital status, age at marriage, and spousal characteristics (education, financial, and professional status).
Main Results:
- The study achieved a 34% response rate (n=250).
- Among respondents, 64% were married, with 23% not in a committed relationship.
- Key reasons for being single included perceived lack of desirable partners (45%), job constraints (14%), and personality differences (13%).
- Female surgeons marrying after age 36 were more likely to have spouses with lower income, education, and financial success.
Conclusions:
- Later marriage in female surgeons correlates with a reduced likelihood of finding a partner of equal educational, financial, and professional standing.
- This phenomenon indicates a shift from hypergamy (marrying "up") towards hypogamy (marrying "down").
- These observed trends are not exclusive to the field of plastic surgery.
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