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Why Being A Doctor Is More Expensive For Women
Posted On 18 Jul 2018
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One of the most prestigious and honorable professions is that of a doctor of medicine. Endless hours of studying, training, and money are a few factors that earn those a doctorate degree, but such efforts do not end with a diploma for some, specifically women. Despite over one-third of the population of practicing physicians being women, the fairer sex falls victim to scrutiny on the job and an even more expensive lifestyle as a result.
Time Lost for Domestic Duties
Time is money and women are less likely to have as much time to dedicate to work than men. Because women carry, birth, and care for children, their work tends to take a backseat, despite having earned such an incredible title. As reported by the New York Times, women spend over nine more hours per week tending to household duties than their male counterparts, so there’s no denying that this time away will be detrimental to any earnings and opportunities for awards and accolades.
Hazing in the Workforce: Who Pays the Price?
As is the case in most male-dominated fields, women tend to become the butt of harsh jokes; they deal with unequal pay and an unfair distribution of tasks from both employers and even patients. These harsh and cruel factors contribute to anxiety, depression, and a general sense of stress, escalating the cost for disability and medical insurance. Women have to pay more for such insurance because companies find them to be at higher risk for depression and autoimmune disorders. Additionally, companies expect women to visit physicians more frequently than men, a fact that they intend to bank on.
The Loss of Work to Male Counterparts
In the same New York Times article that claimed women spend more time on domestic duties than men, a statement was made that if a woman surgeon makes a mistake, physicians are less likely to recommend their patients to other women surgeons, but the same effect was not found in male surgeon populations. These stipulations undoubtedly result in lower pays and lost opportunities for the female sex.
Conclusively, being a woman is powerful; being a woman doctor is a tremendous daily feat in it of itself. Despite its tribulations, the medical field for women is growing by the day with more than half of medical schools being filled with females–a glorious reality sure to shake up the times and perhaps force insurance companies to rethink their policies.
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