How did Ideas about Gender Influence Women’s Entry into the British Medical Profession Prior to WWII?

ABSTRACT

The path for British women into medicine has changed beyond recognition. This short essay examines how gender role ideology has influenced women’s entry into this profession, tracing the arduous journey travelled by the early pioneers and the obstacles faced. This article is particularly relevant with today’s context, where women now outnumber their male counterparts in the British medical education system. The common belief that women were not explicitly discriminated against by the medical establishment is also challenged. Furthermore, the means by which male incumbents monopolised skills are discussed and the effects of war on occupational entry are outlined.