When Does Gender Matter?: Gender Differences in Specialty Choice Among Physicians

In the United States, women physicians remain concentrated in a few specialties despite their increased representation in the profession. Using data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, and the National Survey of Attitudes and Choices in Medical Education and Training, this article assesses the extent of gender segregation across specialties for a cohort of physicians from their entry into medical school to 16 years postentry as well as the correlates of specialty aspirations and choices. Analysis reveals that specialty aspirations at entry into schooling are just as gender-different as specialty choices at exit and after. However, while early aspirations map closely onto gender differences in orientations toward medical practice, later choices encompass factors beyond job values, work-family, and encouragement and mentoring from others. These findings highlight the significance of gender in the development of both early preferences and later choices and suggest ways in which we can further our understanding of gender segregation within and beyond the medical profession.