Women in Allergy and Immunology: The Future Is Female, Let Us Soar!

Abstract

Despite increases in the number of female physicians in the past 50 years, women remain underrepresented in key areas of medicine, such as practice owners and partners, professional society leaders, principal investigators, full professors, chairs, and deans. Women are paid less, oftentimes for more work. Allergy and Immunology (AI), as a specialty, lacks substantial workforce research, but trends across specialties are consistent. We review what is currently known about women in AI and consider barriers to practice, advancement, and contribution. Through a new inquiry, we find that the challenges women in AI encounter can be summarized through 6 themes: work-life balance, professional advancement, salary equity, mentorship and sponsorship, bias, and sexual harassment and misconduct. Together, we must address these challenges head-on and provide an equitable environment for women in AI to thrive, especially those affected by intersectionality. To do so, we suggest targeted, tangible actions to promote opportunities, offer institutional support, and advance reporting and culture change outlets across AI settings.