Practicing medicine requires years of training, hospital shifts, and evaluations. Yet a survey found that most women physicians had experienced workplace discrimination or sexual harassment at some point in their training or careers—and, in most cases, the perpetrator was a senior physician.

A survey of 428 women physicians from 31 of Mexico’s 32 states found that 82% had experienced gender discrimination and 84% had experienced some form of sexual harassment during their training or professional careers.

“What surprised us most was the prevalence,” says Fernanda Mesa, a professor at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (EMCS), breast cancer researcher, and one of the study’s authors.

The survey was conducted between April and July 2024 and distributed through online communities for women physicians, including messaging groups and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Sexual Comments and “Jokes” Are the Most Prevalent Form of Harassment

Among the most frequently reported experiences of sexual harassment were sexual comments or “jokes,” cited by 95% of those who said they had experienced harassment; sexualized looks, reported by 88%; persistent or unwanted sexual advances, by 56%; and unwanted physical contact, by 50%.

Additionally, 6% reported having experienced sexual assault.

“Some of the behaviors reported were deeply concerning,” says Cynthia Villarreal, a research professor at EMCS, oncologist, and another of the study’s authors.

Beyond these alarming figures, the researchers say one of the most revealing findings was who perpetrated these behaviors.

Medical Hierarchy Affects the Prevalence of Sexual Harassment

Among survey participants who reported experiencing harassment, 78% identified a senior physician as the perpetrator, while 42% identified a professor.

In a section asking what participants did after experiencing sexual harassment—which was answered by 343 respondents—only 9.9% said they had reported it to the authorities.

Among those who did not report it, 41% said they feared retaliation, and the same percentage believed doing so could damage their careers. In addition, 38% said the perpetrator held a position of power.

“When the person engaging in inappropriate behavior also has influence over someone else’s training, evaluations, professional opportunities, or career prospects, reporting it becomes much more difficult,” Villarreal says.

The study also found an association between experiencing gender discrimination and experiencing sexual harassment.

After accounting for variables such as age and medical specialty, those who had experienced discrimination were 7.63 times more likely to report sexual harassment. The authors emphasize that this is an association and does not demonstrate that discrimination causes harassment.

“It does not mean that one causes the other, but seeing this association is both interesting and concerning,” Mesa says.

The Survey and Its Limitations

Unlike previous studies that had examined this issue primarily among medical residents, the survey focused on a broader population of women physicians from different specialties and stages of their careers, which could help explain the high prevalence reported.

“This represents a considerably longer period of exposure,” Villarreal explains.

Efforts to increase women’s participation in the field have also led to a growing number of women physicians, but patriarchal hierarchies persist. “Because more men hold leadership positions, these types of incidents appear more likely to occur,” Mesa says.

However, the survey results should be interpreted with caution because participants were recruited through Facebook and WhatsApp groups for women physicians, meaning this was not a probability-based sample.

The authors acknowledge that those who had experienced discrimination or harassment may have been more interested in responding. Participants also reported experiences that had occurred throughout their careers, creating the possibility of recall bias.

What the study can establish, therefore, is that these incidents were extraordinarily common among the 428 women physicians surveyed.

“The results show that these are not isolated incidents and that significant barriers still prevent women from reporting them safely,” Villarreal emphasizes.

Education and Reporting Mechanisms Could Help Transform Medical Culture

The researchers say that, in addition to continuing to investigate how widespread the problem is nationwide, measures must be taken to prevent it.

Among the most important are education and awareness. Whether through courses, classes, or training sessions, everyone involved in the medical field must know how to recognize gender discrimination and sexual harassment, how to prevent them, and what to do when they occur.

“Universities and hospitals should provide at least one workshop, including for people in administrative positions,” Mesa says.

The most effective interventions for reducing these incidents must also be evaluated, studied, and tested.

Crucially, clear, accessible, and confidential reporting mechanisms must be in place. “Nearly one-third of participants who had experienced sexual harassment said they did not know how these mechanisms worked,” Villarreal says.

The study therefore suggests that recognizing the problem is only the first step. Transforming the culture of medical institutions will require clear policies, codes of conduct, education and training, as well as a genuine commitment from institutional leaders.

“The response must include prevention, education, reporting mechanisms that work, and protection for those who decide to come forward,” Villarreal concludes.

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