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The Experience of Male Physicians with Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment: a Qualitative Study

Amy H Farkas1, Cecilia Scholcoff2, Julie L Machen3

  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee VA Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA. ahfarkas@mcw.edu.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
|February 21, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Men in medicine experience sexual harassment, often hesitating to label it and reporting less distress but concern for reputation. They, like women, need training to respond to harassment and help create safer environments.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Professionalism
  • Gender Studies in Medicine
  • Workplace Harassment Research

Background:

  • Sexual and gender-based harassment are prevalent in the medical field.
  • Limited research exists on men's experiences with such harassment in medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the experiences of male physicians with sexual and gender-based harassment.
  • To identify themes related to harassment, its impact, and response strategies among men in medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Semi-structured interviews were conducted with male physicians (trainees to attendings).
  • An interview guide was developed based on literature review.
  • Grounded theory and iterative coding were used to analyze interview transcripts.

Main Results:

  • Five themes emerged: personal experiences, witnessed harassment, characterization, impact, and response strategies.
  • Men reported harassment but were reluctant to define it as such, experiencing less emotional distress but worrying about professional reputation.
  • Participants lacked adequate training for responding to harassment, both personally and when witnessing it against female colleagues.

Conclusions:

  • Men's experiences with sexual harassment in medicine differ from women's, characterized by less emotional distress and under-identification of incidents.
  • Male physicians, similar to their female counterparts, feel unprepared to address harassment.
  • Equipping men with tools to respond can empower them to combat sexual harassment in medicine.
Keywords:
gender-based harassmentmensexual harassment

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