Is Empowerment of Female Radiologists Still Needed? Findings of a Systematic Review

Giulia Fichera, Isolde Martina Busch, Michela Rimondini, Raffaella Motta and Chiara Giraudo
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Giulia Fichera: Department of Medicine–DIMED, Institute of Radiology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Isolde Martina Busch: Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Michela Rimondini: Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Raffaella Motta: Department of Medicine–DIMED, Institute of Radiology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Chiara Giraudo: Department of Medicine–DIMED, Institute of Radiology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Considering that radiology is still a male-dominated specialty in which men make up more than two thirds of the workforce, this systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current role of women in radiological imaging, focusing on the main aspects such as career progression, leadership, academic practice, and perceived discrimination. Three electronic databases were searched up to 21 October 2020. To identify additional records, weekly automatic email alerts were set up on PubMed until December 2020 and reference lists of key studies and included papers were screened. Two reviewers independently performed the search, study selection, quality appraisal, data extraction, and formal narrative synthesis. In case of disagreement, a third reviewer was involved. Across the 61 included articles, women worked more often part-time and held fewer positions of power in hospitals, on editorial boards, and at the academic level (associate and full professors). Women were less often in relevant positions in scientific articles, had fewer publications, and had a lower H-index. Discrimination and sexual harassment were experienced by up to 40% and 47% of female radiologists, respectively. Our study highlights that women in radiology are still underrepresented and play a marginal role in the field, struggling to reach top and leading positions.

Keywords: gender inequality; radiology; female empowerment; women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1542-:d:494473

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