Now the British Medical Association – which represents more than 140,000 doctors and medical students — is launching a new initiative called Women in Medicine to try to boost the number of women in senior medical posts.
Professor Bhupinder Sandhu, the chair of the BMA's equality and diversity committee, said: "Women have come a long way since the 19th century when they were not allowed to go to medical school. However, while equality between male and female doctors is relatively OK at the bottom end of the profession, getting into medical school and the early jobs in medicine, there are still areas where women are not rising to senior positions".
Professor Sandu went on: "Part of the problem is the need for flexible working, but that is much easier now – particularly in the NHS where most doctors work. The other problem is that women are not pushing themselves forward."
Obviously this kind of initiative is long overdue, given the costs involved to train a medical graduate. But, excuse me? Part of the problem is the need for flexible working? Isn’t this ALL of the problem for women with children? Why would they push themselves forward for a job that means they won’t see their children very often?
Still, at least the initiative is a start.
Read the full story in the Observer.
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