Gender Equity in Clerkship Terri L. Paul MD FRCPC Cert Endo Associate Dean Equity & Professionalism

Objectives After this presentation you will be able to: Define Equity Define Gender Equity Discuss how to approach equity issues

What Does Gender Equity Mean?

Equity eq·ui·ty Noun/ˈekwitē/ The quality of being fair and impartial: "equity of treatment". The state, quality, or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair.

Gender Equity Gender equality (also known as gender equity, gender egalitarianism, or sexual equality) is the goal of the equality of the genders or the sexes, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_equity en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_equity The application of fairness or justice in all gender issues. This applies both to the composition of power structures and to social divisions of labor.

Gender Equity means fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men.... genderandhealth.ca/en/modules/introduction/introduction- glossa genderandhealth.ca/en/modules/introduction/introduction- glossa though often used interchangeably with gender equality, is a very distinct concept. Equity programs favor treating women and men differently in order to achieve the equal status of women and men

Case During morning teaching rounds a male physician comes up to the group of housestaff, and places his arm around the waist of a female medical student and compliments her on the terrific job she did with the patient with chronic pain seen earlier that week. You sense that the student is uncomfortable with the gesture.

Case Questions How do you feel? What would you do? Is this response adequate?

Case You are on call for your Ob/Gyn rotation One of the patients you have been following in clinic with Dr Rebel is admitted in active labour As you go to enter her room to evaluate her, you are stopped by the labour and delivery nurse who says As a rule, I wont have a male in this room

Case Questions How do you feel? What would you do? Is this response adequate?

Case You signed up for a marginalized communities elective at the London Middlesex Health unit Involves work at an addictions center, a refugee health clinic and the high risk birth control unit When you receive your schedule, you notice your female classmates have 3 full days at the birth control clinic You have none

Case You call the rotation leader and ask what is happening The only answer is that they advertize the clinic as a female physician only clinic Enjoy your 3 days off

Case Questions How do you feel? What would you do? Is this response adequate?

Who has the ultimate decision as to whether a student should be involved in the care of a specific patient? That decision lies with the patient and should not be made for the patient by physicians or allied health care professionals without consulting the patient

What Does Gender Equity Mean? Equal opportunity without regard to gender May not be equivalent or identical but should provide equal experience Exclusion from certain learning experiences based on gender is not acceptable

"Always do the right thing. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." (Mark Twain)

Office of Equity and Professionalism Kresge Building K1 Phone