Gender-Related Discriminations in European Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: European Report

Background: Microaggressions are subtle verbal or behavioral insults (intentional or unintentional) that typically convey negative or hostile attitudes towards marginalized groups. We aim to study microaggressions and workplace culture amongst European otolaryngologist –head and neck surgeons (E-OTOHNS). The perception of “differential treatment” based on individual traits was used as a proxy for microaggressions. Methods: European members of Young-Otolaryngologists of International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (IFOS) and Confederation of European Otorhinolaryngological Societies were surveyed regarding observed and personal experiences of microaggressions in the workplace as related to individual factors that comprise one’s identity; These factors included biological sex; disability; gender identity; language proficiency; citizenship; ethnicity; political belief; sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Results: A total of 230 E-OTOHNS completed the survey (17%), including 113 Women (49%) and 117 men (51%), respectively. The most common daily-to-monthly observed microaggressions were related to age (n = 177, 50.1%), biological sex (n = 105, 45.7%), and language proficiency (n = 67, 29.1%), respectively. Personal experiences of microaggression were related to professional rank (n = 80; 35.3%), age (n = 75; 32.6%), and biological sex (n = 63; 27.5%). Women self-reported significant higher proportions of personal experiences of microaggression related to ageage (40.7% vs 24.8%; P = 0.003), biological sex (41.6% vs 13.8%; P = 0.001), and professional rank (42.0% vs 28.7%; P = 0.049) compared to men. Similarly, Women self-reported higher rates of personal feeling of exclusion from their colleagues at the institution (P = 0.036) than men and were more likely mistaken for another role in the hospital (P = 0.004). Conclusions: Woman European otolaryngologists, particularly those early in their careers, self-report higher proportions of observed or experienced microaggressions related to age, biological sex, and professional rank compared with male otolaryngologists. More efforts are needed in European academic Otolaryngology to reduce microaggressions, discriminations, and exclusions as more woman surgeons enter the medical workforce.