By Jessica A. Gold , M.D., M.S., Carol A. Bernstein , M.D., Kali D. Cyrus , M.D., M.P.H., et al., The American Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2019
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on the culture of sexual harassment in academic institutions, sexual harassment is extremely common across scientific fields, with the highest prevalence in medicine. These high rates are pervasive across sites and disciplines, including psychiatry.
Sexual harassment and gender discrimination are intimately linked. Gender disparities in salary and career advancement exist across health care fields and serve to devalue women in the workplace. These disparities also create an environment with detrimental power dynamics that limit women’s ability to report or defend themselves against harassment. These dynamics are even worse for women from diverse backgrounds (e.g., racial-ethnic minorities; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community).
Given this current landscape, TIME’S UP Healthcare was launched on March 1, 2019, with the mission to ensure a safe, equitable, and dignified health care workplace. With the support of TIME’S UP, its parent affiliate, TIME’S UP Healthcare is a 501(c)(3) organization that combats gender inequity and sexual harassment through advocacy, education, and action. The value of diversity has been imbued throughout the TIME’S UP Healthcare organization. Founding members represent women in leadership throughout medicine, nursing, physician assistants, pharmacy, research, and administration. Our diversity extends beyond job titles and includes representation across race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and women at the intersections of multiple identity groups. Five psychiatrists are among the 50 volunteer founding members, including two past APA presidents.
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