In developed countries, the number of female doctors has been increasing. As this number has increased, some problems have become evident, for example, lack of manpower in surgical fields. Female doctors, especially those who have children, have some particular characteristics. They are less career-oriented and tend to choose part-time jobs. The situation is also the same in Japan. In addition to that, a lot of Japanese female doctors leave hospitals after having children because they cannot continue their work. Therefore it is serious issue to tackle urgently.
A new clinical training system for doctors was launched in 2004 which changed young doctors' working style drastically. They tend not to belong to university hospitals and they prioritize their own quality of life and work life balance. Generally, it is suggested that to support female doctors is synonymous with supporting female doctors who have children. This is a reasonable idea, however, actually even single middle-aged female doctors leave university hospitals and public hospitals because they prefer to work in a less stressful environment. Therefore this issue should be elucidated from various viewpoints, generations, gender role stereotypes and sexual distinctions. It is also necessary to discuss our own gender role stereotype and to educate medical students about noblesse oblige, that is to say, to keep working as a doctor.
The most crucial thing is not only to equip the hospital with a nursery, but also to enable all people, irrespective of gender and marital status, to design their own career. As psychiatry tends to be chosen by female doctors, it is important that general hospital psychiatry departments offer flexible, accessible and progressive programs.
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