The Role of Gender and Precarious Manhood on Prospective Specialty Choices Amongst Medical Students in the Netherlands

Abstract

This study examines how gender and precarious manhood influence the specialty choices of medical students in the Netherlands. Specifically, it examines whether male medical students are less likely to choose female-dominated specialties and whether their perception of precarious manhood moderates this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 227 medical students, who were asked about their preferred specialties. For exploratory purposes, the study also examined participants' least preferred specialty choices and whether precarious manhood moderated that relationship. The findings revealed that male students predominantly prefer male-dominated specialties, with precarious manhood significantly moderating this preference. In contrast, female students showed a balanced interest in male- and female-dominated specialties. The study concludes that gender stereotypes and societal expectations significantly impact specialty choices, suggesting a need for early educational interventions to address these biases and promote gender equity in medical fields. These insights can help medical schools, and policymakers develop strategies to reduce gender imbalances and encourage a more diverse representation across all medical specialties.