The challenges of being a female gastroenterologist

Abstract

Women have started to enter gastroenterology (GI) in significant numbers over the past 5 years, although they are still underrepresented compared with the proportion of female graduating medical students. This underrepresentation is most likely caused by the culture of GI where female students and residents have felt undervalued and unwelcome. This type of discrimination is difficult to fight because it is behind the scenes. However, with increasing female role models in GI, this underrepresentation will likely change in the coming years.