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Maternal discrimination is a form of gender discrimination rooted in the perceived threat of fertility and/or established identity or role as a mother. It is a symptom of patriarchal fragility. About 80% of women physicians whom are or will become mothers report experiencing maternal discrimination based specifically on their motherhood status(1).

In a landmark study by Halley at UCSF(2) revealed persistent, frequent and blatant discrimination. This study also highlighted the unique aspects of medical training, practice & culture that contribute to maternal discrimination. However, the demographics of the study left room for diversity in that 70% of respondents were white women between the ages of 30-40. And only 9% of participants were residents or fellows.

The demographics left much to be desired and reflected the lack of diversity we see in medicine. The composition of medicine is changing, and women became the majority of new enrollees in US medical schools in 2018 with an increase in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The Halley study describes the lived experience of respondents but illustrates that of a predominantly white, 30-40-year-old group that is almost exclusively composed of physicians that have completed residency and fellowships. While valid and compelling, this sample is not representative of the experience of current residents and fellows in training who experience the spectrum of maternal discrimination. Moreover, current trainees are less likely to seek resources or justice when confronted with discrimination for fear of retaliation and placing financial and career security at risk.

The status of a trainee (resident or fellow) confers a layer of vulnerability that cannot be quantified but is ubiquitous. In addition to changes in demographics, it is this very vulnerability that necessitates an anonymous survey on maternal discrimination and how current residents and fellows experience it.

The narratives collected and featured here describe the current conditions and forms in which trainees experience maternal discrimination. This is the first qualitative study to highlight this issue and provides a rich database for advocacy work.

1. Stentz, Natalie Clark, et al. "Fertility and childbearing among American female physicians." Journal of Women's Health 25.10 (2016): 1059-1065.

2. https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4926.long