EULAR task force: Gender gap persists in academic vs. clinical rheumatology
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Despite “a high proportion” of women in clinical rheumatology, gender equity was considerably lower in the academic rheumatology setting, according to a member of the EULAR Task Force on Gender Equity in Academic Rheumatology at the EULAR 2021 Congress.
“The aim of this task force was not really to make recommendations because we do not think we are there yet, but to establish the extent of unmet need for support of female rheumatologists, scientists and health professionals in academia,” Laura Coates, PhD, National Institute for Health Research clinician scientist and senior clinical research fellow at the University of Oxford, in the U.K.
The idea was to develop a framework for how EULAR can approach issues pertaining to gender equity in the specialty. “We were really starting from scratch with this task force,” Coates said.
After conducting a literature review to determine questions that should be asked, the group surveyed professionals in the 45 EULAR member countries. The response rate, however, was only 27%, and only included responses from 12 of the member countries. “That is predominantly because most people replied to say that they did not know the answers,” Coates said.
Results showed that survey respondents were 71% women, according to Coates. The majority of respondents were between 31 and 40 years old, with 27% of respondents being women over 40 years.
While some member countries did, in fact, have a gender equity task force of some kind, most did not.
If there is good news, it is that there is “quite a high proportion” of women in clinical rheumatology. However, the proportion in academia and academic medical centers is considerably lower. “If we move on to think about senior academic rheumatologists, say full professor level, that number drops off quite significantly in most of the countries,” Coates said.
Similarly, when the task force investigated the number of women who are invited to speak or chair sessions at EULAR and other national or international conferences, women represented around 40% of those positions at the meetings in individual countries, and at EULAR itself. “It was lower for France and Germany,” Coates said.
Other findings showed that men were more likely to be working full-time in their rheumatology positions, while a “significant minority” of women were working less than full-time in their roles.
Coates also reported some findings from the STEMM Equity Achievement (SEA) Change survey, which provided insight into leadership aspiration and other parameters of career advancement for women. “It is harder for women to get ahead,” she said. “It is harder in terms of promotion and leadership roles.”
While Coates noted that recent social movements have placed the spotlight on gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace, she suggested that these issues are “still causing active problems” in rheumatology.
As the task force attempted to place these various issues into a framework, Coates stressed that the obstacles to gender equity vary from country to country. In addition, there are many particulars over which an organization like EULAR has little influence, despite its best efforts.
However, she suggested that efforts to decrease unconscious bias are critical, along with those to elevate women to the level of role models by inviting them to speak or chair sessions.
Training courses may also have utility. Coates noted that the training courses may not need to be specifically for women. General leadership seminars to allow young clinicians to advance in their careers, with gender equity issues in mind, could prove beneficial. Additionally, mentorship programs may also be used to promote gender equity, along with adjustments to EULAR funding.
“We have identified multiple potential interventions which could be put in place by EULAR to accelerate gender equitable career advancement,” Coates said.
But more data are needed. “If we are not measuring this, we don’t really know the size of the problem.”
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Coates L. The Gender Equity in Academic Rheumatology EULAR taskforce. Presented at EULAR 2021 Congress; June 2-6, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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