Women in Anaesthesia – a special issue at the British Journal of Anaesthesia aligned with International Women’s Day

In celebration of International Women’s Day, British Journal of Anaesthesia has prepared a special issue on Women in Anaesthesia. Covering underrepresentation of women in medical research, leadership positions in anaesthesia and the specialty of anaesthesia itself compared to the general female representation in medicine, the issue aims to recognise, describe and measure the problem.

With women making up at least 50% of medical students in most western countries, the lack of gender diversity in medical leadership and research positions is detrimental to the profession and women's health. The issue collects clinical and laboratory investigations, reviews, special articles, and correspondence focused on Women in Anaesthesia.

Addressing a number of themes, the articles report on the current status of women anaesthesiologists including how and why women are underrepresented in academic positions, in journal authorship, as editorial board members, and as academic award recipients, and in some countries remunerated at a lesser rate than their male colleagues. 

The issue also tackles women as subjects in anaesthesiology research cohorts, clinical investigations that focus on women patients, and laboratory studies that address the issue of sex as a biological variable. Better evidence about the effects of sex and gender in medicine is critical for improving healthcare for everyone.

Work published in this special issue provides a baseline for future evaluations of interventions aimed at improving the gap in gender equity in anaesthesia. A seat at the table is no longer enough. We need to see amplification of opportunity, voices, inclusion, participation, recognition, and leadership if we are to help close the gender gap.

Women anaesthesiologists, educators, and researchers are critical to the profession and to the health of patients, both women and men. Women professionals and women patients have many similar, yet many different, characteristics and attributes than men. The issue shows it is our responsibility to recognise, study, adapt to, and celebrate these differences.