Double-Edged Scalpels: The Trials and Triumphs of Women Surgeons

The narratives presented in this symposium describe the many ways in which women are harassed from medical school to residency to fellowship and throughout their careers as surgeons. A clear double-edged pattern in the tactics these women used to cope, the challenges they faced, and the responses they encountered emerge, with each being protective or helpful while simultaneously holding them back. Addressing the systemic cultural issues described throughout will be no easy challenge, but the authors of these narratives provide hope that it can be different for future generations of women pursuing surgical careers.