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The August 15 issue contained an article relating district branch concerns about decreasing membership and referred in particular to the lack of participation by women psychiatrists. Recently, as well, several books have been published that discuss the difficulties women are having combining their professional and family lives.
These concerns echo the comments I made in the Distinguished Psychiatrist Lecture Series at APA’s 1994 annual meeting (Psychiatric News, August 5, 1994). I pointed out that women continue to hold several jobs in one day, including those outside the home as well as those of partner, homemaker, and parent. Yet women are expected to achieve the same goals professionally as their male, usually less-burdened, colleagues. In our medical profession of psychiatry, women run private practices, work in clinics and hospitals, or strive to meet academic expectations for promotions. How can they do all of these tasks and also volunteer for district branch work or for any APA position? Very few are able to do so. The article in Psychiatric News did not suggest any solutions.
In my lecture, I challenged APA to develop some creative methods to assist women psychiatrists, and therefore all women, in dealing with their complex lives. Nothing has come of that challenge although it was referred to the Committee on Women. Obviously that was an improper channel as the members of that committee no doubt are caught in the same dilemma as that being discussed. As more and more psychiatrists are women, it is time for APA to address the difficulties women are experiencing or else continue to suffer a decline in membership.
Judith H. Gold, M.D.
Halifax, Nova Scotia