The One Dozen Most Important Things You May Not Have Known, Understood, or Realized About American Medicine
Gender Issues and Discrimination - Overview
In U.S. society, men and women are considered equals. Women are entitled to and expect to be granted the same consideration and respect as men. Furthermore, women are guaranteed equal protections under the law. Although there is still progress to be made in terms of gender equality in the workplace, women have access to every occupation and career path, including all fields of medicine. Most nurses in the United States are female, and approximately half of all medical students in the United States are women. When interacting with patients and colleagues, the physician must always be respectful and treat both men and women equally. The U.S. workplace is intolerant of any form of gender discrimination, and there is no place for these behaviors in the medical workplace or in the doctor-patient relationship.