Motherhood penalty for female physicians in Japan: evidence from a medical school's alumni data.
Career interruption
Childcare
Female physicians
Gender gap
Motherhood
Journal
BMC health services research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Titre abrégé: BMC Health Serv Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088677
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Oct 2024
04 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
16
05
2024
accepted:
20
09
2024
medline:
5
10
2024
pubmed:
5
10
2024
entrez:
4
10
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Female physicians with children often work fewer hours and take fewer shifts due to additional family responsibilities. This can contribute to a gender pay gap in the medical profession. However, limited research in Japan has quantitatively examined the factors contributing to this gap. This study aims to address this gap in the literature. We analyzed the alumni data from a medical school in Hokkaido, Japan, for 260 physicians (198 males and 62 females). We used multivariable regression models to identify factors influencing earnings from medical practice, with a focus on gender, work schedules, parenthood, and any career interruptions related to childcare. Our analysis revealed a 25.0% earnings gap between male and female physicians. Nearly all female physicians with children experienced career interruptions due to childcare, while this was uncommon for male physicians. When these childcare-related interruptions were factored in, the gender pay gap narrowed by 9.7%. After adjusting for work schedules and specialty choices, female physicians with children still earned 37.2% less than male physicians, while those without children earned only 4.4% less. This suggests that motherhood is a significant driver of the gender pay gap among physicians. These findings highlight the negative impact of motherhood on female physicians' earnings. This emphasizes the need for policy measures to mitigate the disadvantages faced by mothers in the medical profession.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Female physicians with children often work fewer hours and take fewer shifts due to additional family responsibilities. This can contribute to a gender pay gap in the medical profession. However, limited research in Japan has quantitatively examined the factors contributing to this gap. This study aims to address this gap in the literature.
METHODS
METHODS
We analyzed the alumni data from a medical school in Hokkaido, Japan, for 260 physicians (198 males and 62 females). We used multivariable regression models to identify factors influencing earnings from medical practice, with a focus on gender, work schedules, parenthood, and any career interruptions related to childcare.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Our analysis revealed a 25.0% earnings gap between male and female physicians. Nearly all female physicians with children experienced career interruptions due to childcare, while this was uncommon for male physicians. When these childcare-related interruptions were factored in, the gender pay gap narrowed by 9.7%. After adjusting for work schedules and specialty choices, female physicians with children still earned 37.2% less than male physicians, while those without children earned only 4.4% less. This suggests that motherhood is a significant driver of the gender pay gap among physicians.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the negative impact of motherhood on female physicians' earnings. This emphasizes the need for policy measures to mitigate the disadvantages faced by mothers in the medical profession.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39367416
doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11622-8
pii: 10.1186/s12913-024-11622-8
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1183Subventions
Organisme : Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences
ID : 23H00829
Organisme : Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences
ID : 23H00829
Organisme : Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences
ID : 23H00829
Organisme : Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences
ID : 23H00829
Organisme : Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences
ID : 23H00829
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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