"You Don’t Look Like a Doctor”: When Gender Bias Impacts Female Physicians
- Nada Johnson
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
Hi, I’m Nada, a trauma-informed Therapist who supports women healing from abuse and the emotional harm caused by workplace conflict and gender-based power imbalances. 💛
If you’re a woman working in healthcare, especially as a Doctor, you may know how exhausting it can be to not only treat patients but also constantly prove yourself.
For many female Doctors, especially those who work with male patients, conflict doesn’t always come in the form of arguments. Sometimes, it’s the way you're questioned, dismissed, or sexualized while trying to do your job.
You may hear comments like:
“Are you sure you’re the Doctor?”
“You’re too pretty to be in medicine.”
“Can I see the real Doctor?”
🌱 These words might be said with a laugh, but they land heavily. Over time, they can wear down your sense of authority, confidence, and even your safety.
🧠 The Emotional Toll of Gendered Interactions in Medicine
Female physicians continue to face serious challenges because of systemic gender bias.
Systemic gender bias, in simple terms, means the hidden rules and habits in society or institutions that unfairly treat people based on gender (PRISM, n.d.).
🌿 According to the Canadian Medical Association (2023), women in medicine earn less and receive less respect from colleagues and patients compared to their male peers.
🌿 The Doctors of BC (2023) adds that women are often left out of leadership roles, given fewer chances to speak, and face obstacles moving up even when they’re just as qualified as their peers.
🌿 Further, Filut et al. (2021) explain that hidden biases in healthcare make it harder for women doctors to get promoted, be trusted with important work, and feel confident in their roles. These biases don’t just impact their careers they also affect their well-being and the care patients receive.
You might notice:
Feeling tense or hyper-alert during patient interactions
Questioning your expertise after subtle comments
Feeling emotionally drained after each shift
Holding back from correcting patients to avoid seeming “difficult”
Hesitating to report repeated disrespect out of fear of backlash
These reactions are normal responses to a system that expects you to stay composed while constantly being undermined 🤍.
Why This Isn’t Just “Part of the Job”
Many women are told to brush off disrespectful behavior or inappropriate comments as part of being in medicine. But being minimized, questioned, or sexualized is not something you should have to accept.
This conflict may not always look like aggression but it is harmful. As research shows, gender inequity in medicine contributes to higher burnout and turnover among women physicians (CMA, 2023; Doctors of BC, 2023). That emotional weight isn’t just something to "manage", it deserves care and support.
🧱️ How I Support Women in High-Stress Professions
As a Therapist, I work with women in medicine to unpack the emotional stress they’ve been carrying for years, often silently. I create a space where you don’t need to prove yourself. You get to rest, reflect, and heal.
Here’s how I can support you:
💭 Help you process microaggressions and trauma responses
🤍 Rebuild self-trust and confidence in your professional identity
💼 Practice setting boundaries with patients and colleagues
🙏 Reconnect with the passion and purpose you once felt
🌿 Identify what safety, clarity, and self-respect can look like going forward
Whether you want to stay in your role or explore new options, you deserve to do so with a grounded sense of self-worth 💫.
💖 You Deserve to Be Seen, Heard, and Respected
At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services, I help women in male-dominated or high-pressure fields navigate workplace stress and reclaim their peace 🌼.
If you’re a Physician who’s felt overlooked, disrespected, or emotionally worn down, you don’t have to carry it alone. Therapy with me can help you find your voice again and remind you that you were never the problem.
📧 Contact me at info@nadajohnsonservices.com if this blog spoke to you.
Warm Regards,
Nada Johnson, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist / trained Family Mediator / EMDR Trained Therapist / Certified Racial Trauma Clinician / Mental Health & Sexual Violence Consultant / Professional Speaker
🌍Website: www.nadajohnsonservices.com
📩 Contact: info@nadajohnsonservices.com
Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services - Online phone and video sessions available
Village Healing Centre: 240 Roncesvalles Avenue
C: 437-887-6146
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📚 References
Canadian Medical Association. (2023). Equity and diversity in medicine. https://www.cma.ca/physician-wellness-hub/content/equity-and-diversity-medicine
Doctors of B.C. (2023). New policy statement addresses gender equity in medicine. https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/policy/2023/new-policy-statement-addresses-gender-equity-medicine
Filut, A., Alvarez, M., & Carnes, M. (2021). Inequity and women physicians: Time to change millennia of bias. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(6), 1701–1705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06252-6
PRISM. (n.d.). Systemic gender bias. Sustainability Resource Directory. https://prism.sustainability-directory.com/area/systemic-gender-bias/resource/1/
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