In a survey of high-achieving physician-scientists, nearly a third of women reported experiencing sexual harassment.
“This is a sobering reminder that our society has a long way to go before we achieve gender equity,” says study author Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., associate professor and deputy chair of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Researchers surveyed 1,066 men and women who had received a career development award between 2006-2009 from the National Institutes of Health. These awards are given to promising physician-scientists to develop their career as independent investigators. The physicians are now mid-career; average age when surveyed was 43.
Physicians were asked a number of questions about their career experiences, including questions about gender bias, gender advantage and sexual harassment.