Humanizing Different Archetypal Expressions of Gender Expansiveness.

This article explores the concept of gender expansiveness. This term refers to a person's self-identifying as gender fluid, genderqueer, transgender, non-binary, gender diverse, or gender nonconforming. Young people, including older children and adolescents, increasingly are experimenting with crossing gender lines. This trend can be understood as a sociocultural process for humanizing more terrifying archetypal forms of gender diversity. Using Henderson's (1988) concept of the cultural unconscious, the author posits that current social developments among youth are attempting to bring gender expansiveness more into collective consciousness. This issue has occasioned a strong counterreaction with panicked appeals to upholding traditional gender norms and needing restrictions on gender-affirming care. Examples from myth, literature and clinical practice help to contextualize the intense emotions aroused by gender diversity. A case example shows how gender fantasies are worked through within an empathic analytic relationship. The author makes an appeal for updating and humanizing older psychological theories that have relied heavily on splits, polarities, and oppositions, all of which are more characteristic of a 20th century way of thinking about the psyche. A potential approach to incorporate gender expansiveness is through a model of the psyche as a mosaic.

Cet article explore le concept d'expansivité du genre. Ce terme fait référence à l'auto­identification d'une personne comme étant de genre fluide, genderqueer, transgenre, non binaire, de genre divers ou ne se conformant pas au genre. Les jeunes, y compris les grands enfants et les adolescents, expérimentent de plus en plus le franchissement des frontières entre les genres. Cette tendance peut être comprise comme un processus socioculturel visant à humaniser des formes archétypales plus terrifiantes de diversité de genre. En utilisant le concept de l'inconscient culturel de Henderson, l'auteur postule que les développements sociaux actuels chez les jeunes tentent d'amener l'expansivité du genre dans la conscience collective. Cette question a provoqué une forte contre­réaction; des exhortations paniquées au respect des normes de genre traditionnelles et à la nécessité de restrictions concernant les soins d'affirmation de genre. Des exemples tirés des mythes, de la littérature et de la pratique clinique aident à contextualiser les émotions intenses suscitées par la diversité des genres. Un exemple de cas montre comment les fantasmes de genre sont travaillés dans le cadre d'une relation analytique empathique. L'auteur lance un appel à la mise à jour et à l'humanisation des anciennes théories psychologiques qui se sont fortement appuyées sur des divisions, des polarités et des oppositions, et qui sont toutes caractéristiques d'une façon de penser la psyché au XXe siècle. Une approche potentielle pour intégrer l'expansivité du genre consiste à utiliser un modèle de la psyché en tant que mosaïque.

Este artículo explora el concepto de expansividad de género. Este término se refiere a la identificación de una persona como género fluido, género queer, transgénero, no­binario, género diverso o inconformidad de género. Los jóvenes, incluyendo niños mayores y adolescentes, están experimentando de manera creciente el cruzar las fronteras de género. Esta tendencia puede entenderse como un proceso sociocultural de humanización de las formas arquetípicas más aterradoras de la diversidad de género. Utilizando el concepto de Henderson del inconsciente cultural, el autor postula que los actuales desarrollos sociales entre los jóvenes intentan traer más a la consciencia colectiva, la expansividad de género. Esta cuestión ha provocado una fuerte reacción en contra, apelando al mantenimiento de las normas de género tradicionales junto a la necesidad de restringir las prácticas de cuidado dirigidas a la afirmación de género. Ejemplos de mitos, literatura y práctica clínica ayudan a contextualizar las intensas emociones que despierta la diversidad de género. Un caso clínico muestra cómo las fantasías de género pueden ser trabajadas en una relación analítica empática. El autor invita a actualizar y humanizar las antiguas teorías psicológicas que se han basado en gran medida en escisiones, polaridades y oposiciones, todas ellas más características de una forma de pensar la psique propia del siglo XX. Un enfoque potencial para incorporar la expansividad de género es a través de un modelo de la psique a modo de un mosaico.

Comparative study of trans* healthcare models in Catalonia.

Stigma and discrimination against the trans* community have been shown to exacerbate mental health issues among its members. In Catalonia, the Gender Identity Unit at the Clinic's Hospital traditionally adhered to a biomedical model (BMM) of health for trans* individuals. However, a few years ago, the Transit Service introduced a biopsychosocial model (BPSM). This observational cohort study explores the mental health effects in BMM compared to BPSM centers for trans* individuals. A web-based survey was employed to gather essential data, such as socio-demographics information, and mental health outcomes. All data was analyzed from the BPSM group (n = 81) and the BMM group (n = 21). The BPSM group exhibited statistically significant lower odds of experiencing emotional distress (p < 0.001). Other mental health outcomes indicated a trend toward lower odds in the BPSM group compared to the BMM group. Nevertheless, the prevalence of mental health problems were much higher than expected in general popupation, both groups presented depression rates of 35 % and 25.7 %, and anxiety rates of 45 % and 41.9 % (BMM and BPSM, respectively). Furthermore, these differences were also found when comparing to general population in Catalonia. Therefore, there is a pressing need to shift away from paternalistic medical roles and move towards informed decision-making and progressive autonomy. Perceiving the trans* experience as an individual desease, rather than an effect of societal norms on dissident bodies, has detrimental effects for the community. Additionally, the scientific community should listen to the demands of the trans* community and create space for trans* researchers in the production of knowledge.

The Only Constant is Change: A Longitudinal Analysis of Women's Representation Across American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Committee Leadership.

BACKGROUND: Women have historically been underrepresented in surgical leadership and in specialty organizations. This study longitudinally examines representation of women across committee leadership within the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA). METHODS: Annual APSA committee chair and vice-chair rosters (2003-2023) were obtained. If not self-reported in the membership roster, gender was classified based upon review of publicly available data. Proportions of women who served as chairs and vice-chairs were quantified by committee and by year. RESULTS: Overall, the proportion of women serving as APSA committee chairs and vice-chairs increased from 11% to 48% during the study period (p = 0.001). In examining each position, the proportion of women chairs increased from 12% to 40% (p = 0.042), while women vice-chairs increased from 10% to 58% (p = 0.009). The committees with the highest cumulative proportion of women chairs were Benjy Brooks (100%), Diversity Equity & Inclusion (100%), Finance (100%), Global Pediatric Surgery (67%), and Wellness (67%). Four committees- Trauma, Access to Surgery for Kids, Practice, and Professional Development - were not led by a woman chair in the entire study period. Additionally, five committees that traditionally have had significant impact on organizational workflow and agendas all had cumulative proportions of women chairs of less than 50% - Education (33%), Publications (28.6%), Outcomes (19%), Surgical Quality & Safety (18.8%) and Program (9.5%). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate encouraging trends in the gender diversity of APSA leadership. However, this progress does not appear to be evenly distributed; leadership of key committees continues to lack substantial women's representation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Corrigendum: Neurocognitive health in LGBTQIA+ older adults: current state of research and recommendations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1394374.].

Mapping the landscape of pediatric neurosurgery: geography, gender, and trends over time.

OBJECTIVE: Recently there has been an increase in pediatric neurosurgical fellowship graduates. It is important to understand the current pediatric neurosurgical workforce to help with prospective strategic workforce planning. The authors sought to determine 1) the geographic distribution and regional retention after training and 2) academic and leadership metrics by geographic location, era of training, and gender for practicing pediatric neurosurgeons in the United States. METHODS: Current practicing pediatric neurosurgeons were identified through American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery (ABPNS) certification status and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons directory. NIH RePORTER, Web of Science, and departmental and hospital networking websites were used to collect data on demographics, training, leadership, NIH involvement, and academic metrics. RESULTS: A total of 298 ABPNS-certified pediatric neurosurgeons were identified as currently practicing in the United States. Of these pediatric neurosurgeons, 26.2% were women, 74.5% were academic, and 11.7% have received current or past NIH funding. There were significant differences in the concentration of pediatric neurosurgeons per general population based on region. A total of 117 (39.3%) pediatric neurosurgeons held leadership positions; 4 (1.3%) served as neurosurgery department chairs, 67 (22.5%) served as chief of pediatric neurosurgery (9 of whom were women), 12 (4.0%) served as residency program directors, and 32 (10.7%) served as pediatric fellowship directors. Women were more likely to currently practice in the same region in which they trained for medical school (p = 0.050), have a lower academic rank (p = 0.004), and have a lower h-index (p < 0.001). Pediatric neurosurgeons practicing in the Northeast were more likely to have completed residency (p = 0.022) and medical school (p = 0.002) in the same region as their current practice. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the concentration of pediatric neurosurgeons based on region. In pediatric neurosurgery, women hold fewer leadership positions, have lower academic ranks, and are less academically impactful as measured by the h-index. As the demand for pediatric neurosurgeons evolves, thoughtful monitoring of the distribution and composition of the neurosurgical workforce can help ensure equitable access to care across the country.

Parental attitudes towards sexual orientation and gender diversity: challenging LGBT discrimination in Australian schools.

As Australia considers legislative reform regarding the rights of religious schools to discriminate against LGBT students and staff, claims are often made that religious parents or those enrolling children in religious schools do not affirm diversity of sexuality or gender. Using a national dataset of parents (n = 2418), attitudes towards sexual orientation, gender diversity, homophobia and transphobia were examined. Across all religiosities, school sectors and attitudinal statements, significant majorities of parents reported positive attitudes (62.7%-93.5%). Only small minorities expressly reported negative attitudes (1.6%-20.2%). Pairwise religiosity comparisons between parents with children only at a secular school, versus any religious school, revealed few differences. Amongst Catholic parents, those with children at Catholic schools and those with children only at secular schools, held similar attitudes towards LGBT issues and a majority held favourable attitudes, suggesting most Catholic parents who enrol their children in Catholic schools do so despite or in ignorance of Catholic doctrine. Findings suggest a significant majority of parents sending children to religious schools hold supportive attitudes towards diverse sexual orientations, gender diversity, and actions to address homophobia and transphobia. This empirical evidence contradicts religious schools' calls for the rights to discriminate against LGBT persons based on parental values and attitudes.

Prevalence of Depression and Generalized Anxiety Among LGBTQ+ Medical Students in Thailand.

This study evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of depression and generalized anxiety among LGBTQ+ in five medical schools in Thailand. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), respectively, and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors. Of 1,322 students, 412 (31.16%) identified as LGBTQ+. The prevalence for MDD and GAD among LGBTQ+ students were 32.77% and 17.23%, respectively. Significant associated factors for both MDD and GAD were a history of psychiatric illness (AOR for MDD = 2.32, p = .020; AOR for GAD = 3.67, p < .001), educational problems (AOR for MDD = 6.62, p < .001; AOR for GAD = 5.12, p < .001), and dissatisfaction with gender identity or sexual orientation (AOR for MDD = 1.92, p = .019; AOR for GAD = 2.47, p = .005). Additional factors associated with MDD were preclinical years (AOR = 2.30, p = .023), financial struggles (AOR = 2.05, p = .021), and inadequate peer support (AOR = 2.57, p = .044). In conclusion, nearly one-third and one-fifth of Thai LGBTQ+ medical students suffer from MDD and GAD, respectively. Our findings suggest that Thai medical schools should promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity to enhance students' identity satisfaction. Peer support groups should be encouraged, especially for preclinical LGBTQ+ students who face educational and financial challenges.

Gender representation in obstetrics and gynaecology leadership.

BACKGROUND: Women in leadership in obstetrics and gynaecology in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand have historically been underrepresented, despite forming a significant portion of the workforce. This study extends prior research from 2017, examining shifts in gender representation, attitudes, and perceived leadership barriers within the specialty. AIMS: The study aims to evaluate changes in gender diversity among leadership positions in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and accredited training hospitals since 2017. Additionally, it seeks to understand current attitudes toward leadership and identify perceived barriers among RANZCOG consultants and trainees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional approach was employed, utilising publicly available information, a survey distributed to RANZCOG members, and data from accredited training hospitals. Gender representation in leadership positions was analysed, and survey responses were collected from consultants and trainees to evaluate attitudes and perceived barriers. RESULTS: The study reveals an increase in women's representation in RANZCOG leadership, particularly on the council and in clinical leadership positions. While the proportion of women trainees remained stable, there was a noteworthy increase in women specialists. Survey responses revealed shared perceptions on leadership qualities but diverged on barriers, with more women expressing concerns about skillsets, caring responsibilities, and mentorship support. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore substantial progress in achieving gender equity in obstetrics and gynaecology leadership roles, attributed to RANZCOG initiatives, societal changes, and improved policies. Ongoing efforts, including structured mentorship and flexible arrangements, are recommended to sustain and further enhance gender representation and address specific barriers identified by women in the specialty.

"I Can't Just Pull a Woman Out of a Hat": A Mixed-Methods Study on Journalistic Drivers of Women's Representation in Political News.

While the persisting issue of women's underrepresentation in political news partly arises from biases in the social reality, journalism plays a crucial role in mediating these biases. This study proposes a multilayered framework of gendered influences in journalistic news production to understand how journalistic factors exacerbate or mitigate women's media representation. Drawing from a mixed-methods design (content analysis, survey, interviews), journalists' own gender emerges as the strongest predictor of gendered representations. Women's underrepresentation is also influenced by professional roles but not by organizations' gender guidelines. We explore how journalists perceive these influences and discuss conceptual and practical implications.

Watching Televised Counter-Stereotypes Alone or with Mom: Studying the Effects on Preadolescents' Gender Attitudes and Beliefs.

Despite the dominant presence of traditional gender portrayals on television, there is a growing effort to incorporate more diverse gender representations, including in youth television series. The impact of such counter-stereotypical portrayals on preadolescents' gender attitudes and beliefs remains largely unexplored. This mixed-design experimental study among 75 mother-child dyads (Mage child = 10.69, SD = 1.37) examined the effects of watching an episode of an entertainment television program that positively portrays a transgender character, either alone or with the mother. The findings indicated that watching the episode lowered preadolescents' gender essentialism, but did not increase acceptability of and willingness to befriend gender-nonconforming peers. Maternal presence did not further impact the findings. Perceived similarity to and liking of the transgender character did not act as moderators, but had a direct impact on preadolescents' gender attitudes and beliefs. In conclusion, the results suggest that exposure to counter-stereotypes in entertainment television can influence components of preadolescents' gender attitudes and beliefs. Gender-diverse television characters who are perceived as highly similar and likeable appear to be particularly influential.

Impact of a department-sponsored portable breast pump initiative at a single institution.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Many barriers to breastfeeding upon return to the workplace are reported by female radiologists, which have implications on maternal/infant health and physician burnout. The Department of Radiology at our institution piloted an initiative to provide a free portable breast pump to address these barriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous voluntary 32-question survey assessing the impact of the portable pump on postpartum work-life integration was sent to all female radiologists and radiologists-in-training in the department from May 2023 to July 2023. RESULTS: A total of 59 surveys were completed (65 % response rate). Overall, respondents reported a positive or very positive impact of the pump on transitioning back to work (median 4.5/5 on a 5-point Likert scale), on their decision to continue breastfeeding when returning to work (median 4/5), and duration of breastfeeding (median 4/5). Use of the pump was reported as favorable, with utilization of the pump while simultaneously engaging in clinical work (median 4.5/5) obviating necessity of dedicated lactation rooms, and positive impact on daily productivity (median score of 4/5). Nearly all (94 %, 16/17) users of the portable pump had their lactational needs addressed while returning to work, compared to 54 % (6/13) of those returning from leave prior to the pump initiative (p = 0.003). Compared to those utilizing traditional lactational resources, those who utilized the portable pump were significantly less likely to miss educational opportunities (0 % vs 44 %, p = 0.03), or academic engagements due to lactational practices at work (0 % v 44 %, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A department-sponsored portable breast pump initiative proved to be an effective resource to support physician breastfeeding and work-life integration.

Tailoring Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Gender-Expansive Journeys.

This article introduces an innovative adaptation of interpersonal psychotherapy tailored to the needs of individuals identifying as gender diverse and navigating the complexities of gender transition. The few available therapeutic models designed for this population are reviewed, and the novel intervention, grounded in clinical insights and empirical research, is presented. Key components of this adaptation include expanding the interpersonal inventory with targeted processing questions and developing a disclosure timeline-a structured tool designed to guide patients through gender transition-while bolstering social support, reducing distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. An illustrative case vignette is included to elucidate the practical applications of this approach and to underscore essential therapeutic considerations.

Does gender diversity mediate the relationships of diversity beliefs and workplace happiness?

Though its intensity varies across cultures, practicing diversity beliefs has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary business organizations. Traditionally, diversity encompasses various aspects such as gender, education, religion, language, age, ethnicity, culture and personality orientation. The current study has demonstrated to identify the mediating effects of gender diversity on diversity beliefs and workplace happiness. The targeted population is made up of full-time Bangladeshi employees working in both public and private organizations. The researchers distributed a questionnaire to 500 employees and obtained 320 valid responses, resulting in a response rate of 64%. The study used the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique to assess the mediating effects and direct effects among the variables. The results demonstrate that gender diversity significantly mediate the associations between diversity beliefs and workplace happiness. This means that employees are more likely to be happy with their jobs if the workplace reflects gender variety in its workforce. The study further demonstrates that workplace happiness significantly affects employees' job satisfaction, engagement and commitment. The present research foregrounds that firms and concerned authorities must increase their various attempts to establish gender-equal policies that appear to be more effective for diversity practice and workplace happiness in work organizations.

Regimes of truth regarding 'sexual justice' in academic literature from 2012 to 2022: a scoping review.

The notion of 'sexual justice' has gained traction in academic and policy arenas in recent years. This paper presents a scoping literature review of the regimes of truth, following Foucault, of 'sexual justice' appearing in the scientific literature from 2012 to 2022. Thirty-eight papers were coded using (1) content analysis of the studies' central problematics, the programmes referred to, and institutional location(s); and (2) thematic analysis of how the notion was deployed. Central problematics centred on (1) critiques of, or alternatives to, dominant approaches to sexual and reproductive health; and (2) highlighting injustices. As such, 'sexual justice' is fighting for legitimacy in the truth stakes. There is a distinct paucity of papers tackling the translation of 'sexual justice' into practice. South Africa dominates as the site in which papers on 'sexual justice' have been produced, but there is a lack of South-South collaboration. Two themes were apparent around which conceptions of sexual justice cohere. Firstly, sexual justice is seen as a vital, yet politically ambivalent goal, with neoliberal co-optation of progressive rights agendas being warned against. Secondly, sexual justice is viewed as a means, in which sexual justice is described as having potential to repair established frameworks' shortcomings and oppressive legacies.

Are female directors more employee-friendly? Board gender diversity and employee benefits: evidence from China.

The imperative of gender diversity in corporate governance and the adoption of a human-centric governance paradigm are intensifying globally. The structure of board directors, key influencers to corporate decisions, notably shape policies, crucially in emerging markets like China where gender issues are still evolving. Therefore, employing a penal dataset comprising 8,973 firm-year observations from publicly A-share-listed Chinese firms spanning 2006 to 2021, this study empirically examines the impact of board gender diversity on the responsiveness to both employee monetary incentives and non-monetary rewards. The findings unveil a positive correlation, indicating an augmentation in per-employee compensation and an increased likelihood of implementing non-monetary programs, including stock-ownership plans, retirement benefits, and occupational safety certification, in the presence of higher board gender diversity. Notably, these positive associations are more accentuated in state-owned firms, as well as those with lower executive compensation and diminished institutional ownership. Our results remain consistent after considering robustness as well as endogeneity. This empirical evidence not only contributes robust statistical support to the ongoing global initiatives advocating for gender diversity in corporate governance but also underscores the efficacy of boards of directors in effectively managing stakeholder interests, particularly in fostering employee-friendly practices within emerging markets like China.

An Exploration of LGBTQA+ Young People's Coping Strategies When Navigating Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors.

LGBTQA+ young people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors at a much greater rate than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This study explored firsthand accounts of the coping strategies employed by LGBTQA+ young people when experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. LGBTQA+ young people (N = 27; ages 14-25) in Australia with a history of suicidal thoughts and/or attempts participated in semi-structured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four major themes were developed: (1) It's about the journey, not the destination, (2) Connecting with others, (3) When I knew better, I coped better, and (4) Doing the best I can with what I have. LGBTQA+ young people reported utilizing a range of coping strategies, however these were limited by a lack of knowledge around mental health, gender and sexuality diversity, and available resources. Experiences of discrimination within support settings and limited access to clinicians with knowledge of sexuality and gender diversity were cited as significant barriers. Interventions to increase mental health literacy in LGBTQA+ young people and improvements to clinician knowledge of sexuality and gender diversity are needed to enhance LGBTQA+ young people's access to effective coping strategies when experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Child Maltreatment, Mental Health Disorders, and Health Risk Behaviors in People With Diverse Gender Identities.

This study examined rates of mental health disorders and health risk behaviors in people with diverse gender identities and associations with five types of child maltreatment. We used data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), a nationally representative survey of Australian residents aged 16 years and more, which was designed to understand the experience of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence). Mental disorders-major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), alcohol use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and health risk behaviors-smoking, binge drinking, cannabis dependence, self-harm, and suicide attempt in the past 12 months were assessed. People with diverse gender identities who experienced child maltreatment were significantly more likely to have GAD (43.3%; 95% CI [30.3, 56.2]) than those who had experienced child maltreatment who were either cisgender men (13.8%; [12.0, 15.5]) or cisgender women (17.4%; [15.7, 19.2]). Similarly, higher prevalence was found for PTSD (21.3%; [11.1, 31.5]), self-harm (27.8%; [17.1, 38.5]) and suicide attempt (7.2%; [3.1, 11.3]) for people with diverse gender identities. Trauma-informed approaches, attuned to the high likelihood of any child maltreatment, and the co-occurrence of different kinds may benefit people with diverse gender identities experiencing GAD, PTSD, self-harm, suicidal behaviors, or other health risk behaviors.

Women speaker representation at SAGES annual meetings: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gender representation trends at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Annual Meetings and the effect of the 2018 'We R SAGES' initiatives are unknown. We assessed gender trends in oral presentations at the SAGES Annual Meeting between 2012 and 2022 with a focus on assessing the impact of the 2018 initiatives. METHODS: Abstracts selected for oral presentations from 2012 to 2022 were reviewed for presenter and first, second, and senior author gender. Gender was categorized as woman, man, or unknown using public professional profiles. Subsequent publications were identified using search engines. The primary outcome was the temporal trend of proportion of women in each role using interrupted time series analysis. Secondary outcomes included publication rates based on first and senior author genders in 2012-2018 versus 2019-2022. RESULTS: 1605 abstracts were reviewed. The proportion of women increased linearly in all categories: presenter (2.4%/year, R2 = 0.91), first author (2.4%/year, R2 = 0.90), senior author (2%/year, R2 = 0.65), and overall (2.2%, R2 = 0.91), (p < 0.01 for all). Prior to 2018, the proportion of women increased annually for presenters (coefficient: 0.026, 95% CI [0.016, 0.037], p = 0.002) and first authors (coefficient: 0.026, 95% CI [0.016, 0.037], p = 0.002), but there was no significant increase after 2018 (p > 0.05). Female second author proportion increased annually prior to 2018 (coefficient: 0.012, 95% CI [0.003, 0.021], p = 0.042) and increased by 0.139 (95% CI [0.070, 0.208], p = 0.006) in 2018. Annual female senior author proportion did not significantly change after 2018 (p > 0.05). 1198 (75.2%) abstracts led to publications. Women were as likely as men to be first (79% vs 77%, p = 0.284) or senior author (79% vs 77%, p = 0.702) in abstracts culminating in publications. There was no difference in woman first author publication rate before and after 2018 (80% vs 79%, p = 1.000), but woman senior author publication rate increased after 2018 (71% vs 83%, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: There was an upward trend in women surgeons' presentations and associated publications in the SAGES Annual Meetings over the last decade.

Gender diversity and healthcare performance: A quantitative analysis from the Italian health system.

Unlike many other industries, which are characterized by a more significant presence of men than women, the healthcare sector has a clear majority of women. However, even if at the non-executive level, the percentage of women is extremely higher than that of men, at the executive level, this percentage is completely overturned, generating the so-called glass ceiling effect. Despite extensive research on gender diversity and its impact on financial metrics, few studies have focused on clinical measures. To bridge this research gap, the article analyzes the relationship between gender diversity and healthcare metrics. We developed an econometric model for unbalanced panel data by performing a random effect and a quantile regression analysis, which test the relationship between gender diversity and the average length of stay (LOS), controlling for structural and clinical metrics. We find that, in general, a higher percentage of women in non-executive positions is related to an increase in LOS. Conversely, a higher rate of women in executive positions is related to a lower level of LOS. Empirical evidence supports the relevance of including human resources strategies to increase the number of women at executive managerial positions. However, the study highlights also the necessity to consider how to make the public health sector positions more appealing for men.