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. 2019 Oct;6(3):167-171.
doi: 10.7861/fhj.2019-0027.

Women speakers in healthcare: speaking up for balanced gender representation

Rose Penfold  1 , Katie Knight  2 , Nada Al-Hadithy  3 , Lucia Magee  4 , Greta McLachlan  5
Affiliations

Women speakers in healthcare: speaking up for balanced gender representation

Rose Penfold et al. Future Healthc J. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Women comprise the majority of the UK's health and social care workforce, yet remain underrepresented in senior leadership positions. This is reflected in the balance of speakers, chairs and panels convened for healthcare conferences, with disproportionate gender balance. Accumulating evidence suggests that greater diversity across multiple characteristics, including gender, improves staff experience, organisational performance and patient outcomes. Conferences provide opportunities for inclusivity and new ideas only when attendees feel empowered to speak up. If we are to increase diversity of our current leadership, aspiring leaders need to see relatable role models. This article explores the issue of 'manels' and male-dominated speaker lineups, offering practical suggestions for conference organisers, women speakers and male allies to address the issue. We also outline the background to 'Women Speakers in Healthcare': a grassroots initiative founded by a team of aspiring leaders, which aims to achieve balanced gender representation at all healthcare conferences and events.

Keywords: Conference; gender balance; gender equality; healthcare workforce; women.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
A ‘manel’ or all-male panel. Reproduced with permission from Creative Commons. Emerging Companies Summit panel. NVIDIA Corporation, 2009. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
A national commitment to 50:50 gender representation on NHS organisational boards. Cover of report. Sealy R. NHS Women on Boards by 2020. NHS, 2017.
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
A gender-balanced expert panel on digital health and artificial intelligence at the Royal College of Physicians Medicine 2019 Conference, April 2019. Reproduced with permission.
Fig 4.
Fig 4.
Women Speakers in Healthcare: aiming to achieve balanced gender representation at all healthcare conferences and events. Screenshot of website reproduced with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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