“Do you do surgery in those heels? I’d love to see that.” This is one of several actual comments said to female orthopaedic surgeons brought to light in a new video from the AAHKS Women in Arthroplasty Committee (WIA). The video features male surgeons reading derogatory comments out loud in front of the camera. The surgeons were not shown the comments prior to the camera rolling, so their reactions of surprise and disbelief are unscripted.
The project involved collecting actual comments from WIA peers that they had heard from their employers, colleagues and patients. WIA members worked closely with the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and recruited male advocates to participate.
“Our hope is that the video will bring awareness in the orthopaedic workplace so that everyone is more aware of their inherent biases, eliminates them and ultimately encourages more women to be successful in this field,” said Audrey K. Tsao, MD, WIA Chair.
The video, “We Can Do Better. We Can Be Better: Inclusion and Mutual Respect of Women in the Orthopaedic Workplace,” will premiere on the AAHKS YouTube channel on International Women’s Day, Sunday, March 8, 2020. Watch the premiere here.