“There are too many women doctors who want to work part-time, which is contributing to a lack of capacity in the medical system. Therefore, we should reconsider the amount of resources devoted to the education of women doctors and focus more of them on men.”
In her blog, Cali Williams elevates the discussion around the above premise put forth in Canadian and British publications. (Recognize that in these countries the training of doctors is most often paid for by the government.)
Even in the U.S., where individuals subsidize their own education, we presume these thoughts exist but haven’t been verbalized. No doubt, this cynicism applies across various professions—medicine, business, law, etc.
It is a relief that the media are by and large taking a more P.C. approach to flexibility. We know the important contributions that can be made by seasoned professionals dialing their careers up and down over time. Unfortunately, the reality is that the face time, commitment, and value supposition is entrenched in our culture and will take a long time to turn around. I actually appreciate someone having the guts to print these statements because it provides a reality-check for what we are up against. We will continue to believe in the value of OnRampers and their options. We must, however, acknowledge the difficulty of the process, support each other on that journey, and not feel that the hurdles that come with OnRamping reflect on our own intrinsic worth and aptitude.
