Compared with men, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles in faculties of medicine in Canada 5 and the United States. In many institutions, women of equal academic standing and achievement are likely to be promoted at a slower rate than men. 7,8 Women frequently receive lower salaries than men in comparable academic positions. Specific challenges for women in academia were identified by a panel of senior women students and faculty members in the IMS, University of Toronto. These recommendations are strongly supported by recent publications from leading academic and professional organizations in Canada and the United States.
Women also spend more time engaged in child care and domestic tasks.
The biological time constraint for women who wish to have children does not exist for men. A reduced publication rate is viewed unfavourably by external funding agencies at the time of grant renewal. Although grant review committees may take into account the time factor associated with parental leave, extra funds for support during this time are not provided. Hence, research productivity during and after parental leave may be compromised. When female faculty members take maternity leave, their professional colleagues may resent shouldering extra time-consuming teaching, administrative and clinical duties.