Women in medicine face a persistent “glass cliff” when trying to obtain leadership positions, according to a Perspective article published in the Medical Journal of Australia today to mark International Women’s Day.
Although more women took on medical leadership positions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there appears to be a “glass cliff phenomenon” in Australia, Dr Melissa Wheeler from RMIT University and Dr Laksmi Govindasamy wrote.
Women tend to be appointed to leadership positions in times of crisis, where they are often put under increased demands, they argue.
“The glass cliff phenomenon, drawn from the glass ceiling concept, refers to the tendency for women and other minoritised people to be appointed to leadership positions in times of crisis, compared with periods of stability,” Dr Wheeler and Dr Govindasamy wrote.
“This is because, when circumstances are bad, change is both desired and needed, and women and other minoritised people are often pushed forward as visible signals of change.”
Many gender equity initiatives fail to improve women’s representation in medical leadership, they argue, with too many initiatives aimed at professional development for individuals who are seeking or holding leadership positions.
This approach “ignores the structural barriers that continue to be unchallenged with such supply side approaches,” Dr Wheeler and Dr Govindasamy wrote.
- Sam Hunt