Don’t Sit on the Sidelines, Oncology Needs More Male Allies

This Blog post represents a partnership between the Women in Medicine Summit and Healio Women in Oncology. An excerpt appears blow, and please find the full length piece at Healio’s Women in Oncology Blog

Oncologists are trained to notice signs others miss. A cough. A patch of rough skin. A feeling of fatigue. However, there is one concern that is often unnoticed by men within our own profession: Gender discrimination.

A recent Harvard Business Review article emphasized that although most men support gender inclusion, it takes more to actively address persistent workplace biases.

Unfortunately, this is especially true in the field of oncology.

Microaggressions and underrepresentation

One critical area that demands attention is the prevalence of microaggressions.

These seemingly innocuous comments or actions unintentionally offend a person’s identity. Speaking about “the guys” in the lab or telling a physician that she “looks too young to have graduated from medical school” are sometimes not as harmless as they seem.

Male allies can play a significant role in curbing such behaviors by cultivating mindfulness and raising awareness. We can set an example by examining our own language and calling out inappropriate behaviors when we hear or see them.

Another issue we all must be attuned to is the underrepresentation of women in conferences and panels. All too often, we encounter panels dominated by male speakers that fail to reflect the diverse voices and experiences that should be heard in the field. To make genuine progress, including diverse perspectives that reflect our patient population is essential. Male allies can advocate for equal representation and seek opportunities to amplify their female colleagues’ voices.

About the author: Edward S. Kim, MD, MBA, FACP, FASCO, is physician-in-chief and senior vice president of City of Hope Orange County, and vice physician-in-chief and professor with City of Hope National Medical Center.