Reflecting On the #WIMStrongerTogether Chat
Author: Michelle Brooks, MD
Keywords: women in medicine, WIMS, Summit, Twitter chat, narrative, allyship, self expression
“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
Malala Yousafzai
This year’s annual Women In Medicine Summit kicked off with a virtual Twitter chat in conjunction with the Society of Hospital Medicine. Forty-seven participants discussed topics, utilizing the hashtag #WIMStrongerTogether, surrounding the event’s theme:
Finding Your Voice
The Power of Your Voice
The Power of Our Collective Voices
We recognize that not everyone is comfortable participating online or was not able to attend this event synchronously. We have compiled key reflections and highlights for each of the four questions posed during the hour-long chat. Links are provided to lead you to the chat transcript itself.
Topic 1: What barriers exist that prevent you from finding your voice or expressing yourself?
The first topic asked about barriers that exist that prevent you from finding your voice or expressing yourself. Shared experiences included internal barriers such as fear, imposter syndrome, and ingrained cultural behavioral patterns as well as systemic barriers to equity which prevent women from being recognized and rewarded for their work.
A common theme was imposter syndrome, a psychological term that “refers to a pattern of behavior wherein people (even those with adequate external evidence of success) doubt their abilities and have a persistent fear of being exposed as fraud.” Many participants shared examples of subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways in which women are socialized to behave, recognizing that they worry about the way that they are being perceived and the repercussions of being authentic.
One thing that stood out to me is that several participants pointed out that women often receive mixed messages regarding their behavior at work, for example:
@WomenInPHM: “I was told in a med school interview that I smile too much to be taken seriously as a doctor...”
@ShikhaJainMD: “Then when you don’t smile [people] ask why you aren’t happy and that you should smile more.”
I think about this in terms of the conflicting messages I have received as a woman in medicine– be confident but not overly confident; advocate for yourself but not too aggressively; be an excellent doctor but don’t let it interfere with your home life; be candid but don’t really share how things really are.
Topic 2: How can allies help amplify the voices of their colleagues?
Allies are colleagues who are aware of the robust evidence on workforce gender disparities and work to actively include qualified women through mentorship and sponsorship. Allies can speak up to prevent systemic and unsafe cultural barriers that restrain women from expressing their authentic voice. Emergent themes provoked by this question included amplification of women’s voices, attribution for work, and intentional sponsorship. Using honorific plus last name rather than first name (ex. “Dr. Smith”) can be a powerful way for allies to attribute ideas or focus attention back to the source of the idea. Women want to be in the “room where it happens.” Because of imposter syndrome, we don’t always feel like we have a voice at the table.
@ShikhaJainMD: I think @JulieSilverMD says it best. #quoteher #inviteher #sponsorher
Several participants pointed toward the use of non-traditional platforms such as social media as ways for women to have access and voice.
@aoglasser: I have one word…wait for it…twitter. But in all seriousness—harness non-traditional means, including social media and 21st century digital platforms to shake up the traditional amplification/spotlight pathways.
Topic 3: Have you found it is easier or harder to find your voice during the pandemic? Why or why not?
While virtual spaces have made it easier for some to find community, support, and opportunities, others have pointed toward the inequitable impact of the pandemic on career productive as a source of hardship/grief. The disruption of quarantines and loss of childcare were definite hardships. However, several participants in the chat felt that the pandemic opened avenues for their voice to be heard, especially through COVID-related advocacy and public education. Many participants were able to point to bright spots in the pandemic, including making connections and getting sponsored for more opportunities. There is potentially a disparity between those already in practice and those still in training, with those still in medical school or residency having difficulty ensuring adequate training and mentoring.
Topic 4: What can organizations and institutions do to ensure that the voices of #WomenInMedicine are heard?
Participants shared several important strategies for ensuring gender equity at the institutional level. Themes included intentionality in hiring a diverse workforce and ensuring fair distribution of types of work. Institutions can also support women in their workplaces with parental leave, and support for fertility, infertility, and adoption. Purposeful and meaningful changes in policy, guidelines, recruitment, and retention for women physicians is needed...with women invited to the table where these changes occur.
Through a moderated chat on social media about gender equity topics, participants were able to virtually connect with each other prior to the Women in Medicine Summit and identify shared experiences. Several of the topics were explored further during the conference sessions, and the discussion generated excitement for the content. For virtual conferences, an online chat allows for networking and connection to other attendees, and it was a great way to kick off the Summit!
About the author: Dr. Michelle Brooks is an associate professor and academic hospitalist in the Division of Hospital Medicine at VCU Health. She is an award-winning clinician educator with expertise in incorporating technology and social media in medical education for residents and students. Dr. Brooks is currently a digital media fellow for the Journal of Hospital Medicines (Twitter: @MichelleBr00ks).
