Masculinization or Feminization of Medicine? The Case of the Juan N. Corpas University Foundation

Abstract

The academic world is an extraordinarily competitive environment and, apparently, is based solely on individual merit; for this reason, it is easy to deny the existence of gender discrimination, as discussions tend to focus on abilities, competencies, trajectories, or accumulated merits, as if achieving success were merely a matter of personal responsibility, overlooking the fact that the individuals who make up this sphere may not be in equal conditions that allow them to compete effectively as “equals.” The concept of feminization refers to the increasing presence of women in activities from which they were previously excluded, and it is evident that women now participate in roles and professions from which they were excluded by an exclusively male-dominated culture; however, a question arises: Is the increase in the number of women sufficient for the world to change its patriarchal perspective? The entry of women into different fields does not automatically produce feminization, although their presence creates opportunities for alternative ways of being in the world and for new ways of building society. Feminization brings many challenges for women, for example: How can the replication of masculine models of competitiveness and aggressiveness be avoided? It also brings challenges for men: How can new models of masculinity be addressed?