Present States and Supporting Needs for Women Surgeons in Japan

Abstract

The number of surgeon is decreasing in Japan. However, the new female members of Japan surgical society is increasing, year by year, and 22% of new members in 2008 were female. Japanese women working rate by age shows M-shaped curve and many of them stop working in their 30s and 40s. This tendency is in the same state.
To have the female doctors continue to work, the supporting committee for female surgeon in Japan Society of Surgery and Japan Association of Women Surgeons performed anquet about specialty of doctors, councillars and male-female perticipation together, and female doctor support for the branch society of Japan Medical Society from June to August in 2011.
As results, many branch societies are trying to support female doctors. However, the rate of female in decision making societies, such as councillars, and committee members, is still low.Having female doctors to participate in all decision making society could accerarate the female participation into the society.