With the aim of highlighting the work of female doctors and scientists and their valuable contributions throughout history, within the framework of celebrating Doctor’s DayDr. Ana Carolina Sepulveda Veldosola, Full Professor “C” at the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, presented the “Women in Medicine” conference.
Highlighting women’s participation in science since ancient times, she pointed out that “primitive women designed and made utensils, Gain knowledge about edible and medicinal plants, and learn to mix substances to use as an effective treatment for various diseases.“.
Over time, masculinist ideology invaded scientific and academic development, so women began to struggle against biases and stereotypes of femininity to access education, research and work activities. “Discussion of gender perspectives in science only became important in 1980.”He remembers.
In the conference, which was broadcast on Facebook Live and YouTube, Dr. Sepulveda Veldosola highlighted that these obstacles were fortunately not enough to stop the progress of women in science and medicine, since From 1901 to 2022, 61 women won the Nobel Prize, 13 of them in the branches of physiology and medicine; However, opportunities for men and women remain unequal in terms of salaries, jobs, credentials, funding, and leadership positions.
“Because there are few women in these fields, topics of interest to science are guided by male perspectives, which limits progress in research areas and favors cases of discrimination, micro-aggression, exclusion in social and business meetings, inappropriate comments and sexual harassment.” He noted that only 40 percent of male scientists saw barriers to women’s development, and that there were even consequences for the employment of those who advocate for gender equality in scientific practice.
currently Strategies have been implemented to increase the presence of women in academic and research circles, scientific committees and leadership in scienceSuch as recognizing the value of women in society through dedicated spaces to reflect the performance of scientists and researchers, facilitating fair role performance, increasing awareness among the population about this issue, not stigmatizing the tastes, preferences and abilities of girls and boys, promoting female figures as social actors and actively participating as a role model and support for other women.
“There is no doubt that male and female doctors are equal in ability to practice our profession and in the sciences; “As in love, men and women complement each other.”Dr. Sepulveda Veldosola concluded.
Written by L. Xechel Diaz
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