Final answer:
Gender has had a significant impact on women's decisions to pursue a medical career, with historical barriers, societal expectations, and ongoing inequality in representation and pay influencing their choices. While improvements have been made and opportunities for women in medicine have grown, challenges such as discrimination and the underrepresentation in senior positions remain.
Step-by-step explanation:
If we examine how gender has impacted the decision for women to pursue a medical career, we find a complex interplay of societal expectations, historical barriers, and ongoing challenges. Although more women are enrolling in and graduating from college, they still remain underrepresented in many fields of science and medicine. In particular, women continue to be a minority in certain medical specializations and in senior academic positions. A study by Antony in 1998 entitled “Exploring the Factors that Influence Men and Women to Form Medical Career Aspirations” from the Journal of College Student Development suggests that both men and women are influenced by a variety of factors when choosing to pursue a career in medicine.
Traditionally, gender roles have shaped the professions that individuals pursue. In healthcare, despite the term 'doctor' evoking the image of a man, we see a high number of women in fields like nursing, though challenges persist in achieving equity in practice and leadership roles. During historical events, such as wars, women had exhibited outstanding dedication and valor in the medical field, which led to the recognition of their capabilities. Opportunities for women in medicine increased, although they still faced harassment and discrimination, a reality that, while improved, can still present a barrier to some women today.
Today's medical field offers more equality than in the past, with approximately half of all law and medical school students being women. However, women often earn less than their male counterparts in many medical careers, according to a 2013 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. The choice to pursue a medical career as a woman can thus be influenced by various factors, including personal interest, societal pressures, economic considerations, and the prospect of overcoming gender biases in the field.