Women Issues in Medical Curriculum In-Sook Park, M.D. Professor Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology Seoul, Korea Dean Univ. of Ulsan College of Medicine

Dramatic increase in women professionals in Korea in recent years Similar changes occurring worldwide

♢ A total of 85,000 doctors in Korea at present. ♢ Among these 19% are women. ♢  40% of Korean doctors will be women in 10 years.

♢ 23% of medical school graduates (3100/yr) were women in year ♢ 40-50% of new medical school students are women. ♢ 9/10 top medical school graduates are women.

♢ Among all candidates passing Korean law examination, 30-40% are women. ♢ Women comprise 80% of top 10% in academic achievement in Korean law school. Status of Korean Women in Other Profession

♢ 12/16 top college graduates in Seoul National University are women. ♢ Only 1% were women in Korean parliament before year > increased to 13% since year Status of Korean Women in Other Profession

♢ Women professors in Korean Medical school : <10% ♢ Woman dean in 41 Med school : 0->1-> 3 (in 2005) ♢ Women CEO in large university hospital : 0 (except women's med school) Gloomy side

♢ Women in important administrative position or committee in large univ hosp : rare ♢ Women in Korean Medical Association : very rare ♢ Women among 89 Board members of Korean Hospital Association : none Gloomy side

Women's Work vs Appraisal When women works less than men -> "She is terrible" When women works = as men -> She is not so good" When women works X 2 than men -> She is OK, acceptable. When women works X 3 than men -> She is good, but then immediately she becomes a target of caution and aggression from men Prejudice against women at work

♢ 49% of students entering American med school are women. ♢ 2 our of 3 pediatricians and Ob-Gyn are women. ♢ Male professors are x 2.4 times more likely to acquire tenure tract position Status in U.S.A.

♢ Women professors have a high probability to leave academic institution. ♢ There are only 9 women deans in >120 medical schools. ♢ There are very few women in important committees in medical schools. Status in U.S.A.

♦ Some specialties have too high & some specialties have too low proportion of women doctors. ♦ Discrimination in medical school faculty appointment ♦ Discrimination against women in deanship, CEO, chief or important member of medical societies Problems/Reality

Why there are so few women in academic position or CEO or other high-ranking position in medical society? ♦ Simple prejudice (Men rarely appoints women) ("lack of experience as a leader“) ♦ Actually not many women are prepared. ♦ “princess syndrome” Women's attitude toward professionalism : poor motivation, poor challenging spirit ♦ “princess syndrome” Women's attitude toward professionalism : poor motivation, poor challenging spirit

Why there are so few women in academic position or CEO or other high-ranking position in medical society? Family pressure Cont’

♦ Changing the society : "Clean society" for fair competition. What to do? Suggestions to solve or relieve the problem ♦ Education for man & " mother-in laws”. ♦ Education for man & " mother-in laws”. ♦ Part-time (temporary) is an option ♦ Part-time (temporary) is an option

an attractive option : ♢ Is this acceptable in our/your society? ♢ Not possible in some specialties ♢ Not possible for a medical school professor or a researcher an attractive option : ♢ Is this acceptable in our/your society? ♢ Not possible in some specialties ♢ Not possible for a medical school professor or a researcher Alternative work schedule : Part-time work

What do to do? Suggestions to solve or relieve the problem ♦ Changing the curriculum : ♢ More educational programs in leadership for women ♢ Building more self-confidence, motivation & challenging spirit for women (cont')

♦ need more role-models of women doctors/CEO who is brave & outspoken and has a high moral value, positive attitude, power of execution and leadership. What to do? Suggestions to solve or relieve the problem ♦ Building close network among women of both medical and non-medical professions. (cont’)

(cont’) ♦ Women doctors need to be more influential to the society, by more active participation in community service and also need to express more interest in national and international health-related issues. What do to do? Suggestions to solve or relieve the problem ♦ Become successful in her own specialty field whatever that is -> the most important basic requirement for women’s leadership. ♦ Become successful in her own specialty field whatever that is -> the most important basic requirement for women’s leadership.

(1) Society will be cleaner than now, and people will be judged only by their ability & achievements. And as a result women will have more opportunity. (2) Women are less prone to corruption than men. (cont’) Future Perspective Women will occupy a much bigger proportion in the future society than now, Maybe more than men in some fields. Why? Women will occupy a much bigger proportion in the future society than now, Maybe more than men in some fields. Why?

(cont’) (3) Anthropology had told us that women are multi-talented and multi-players, and therefore women are more suitable to the society of the future, which is represented by 3F (fiction, feeling, female). (cont’) (3) Anthropology had told us that women are multi-talented and multi-players, and therefore women are more suitable to the society of the future, which is represented by 3F (fiction, feeling, female). Future Perspective (4) Women work harder for success than men because they were suppressed for so long.

Epilogue

감사합니다. Thank you very much !