Perceptions and Experiences of Gender Equity Among Endourologists

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gender Studies
• Medical Education

Background:

• Women comprise only 9.9% of practicing urologists in the US, with fewer in leadership roles.
• Endourology fellowships are underrepresented among women urologists.
• Existing research highlights disparities in gender equity within medical specialties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess endourologists' perceptions of the climate for women physicians.
• To compare perceptions and experiences of gender equity between male and female endourologists.
• To identify potential gender-based differences in the perception of workplace culture.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the validated Culture Conducive to Women's Academic Success (CCWAS) questionnaire.
• Survey distributed to members of the Endourological Society via listserv.
• Analyzed scores related to equal access, work-life balance, freedom from bias, and leadership support, using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• 104 surveys completed (7% response rate); 26.9% of respondents were female.
• Significant difference in CCWAS scores between male (median 196.0) and female (median 166.5) respondents (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in scores based on years in practice, parental status, or practice type (academic vs. private).

Conclusions:

• Male endourologists' perceptions of gender equity are incongruent with female colleagues' experiences.
• Male respondents reported a more positive departmental culture towards women than female respondents.
• Findings suggest gender-based differences in the perception and experience of inequities in endourology.