ANALYSIS OF PRACTICE PATTERNS, STEREOTYPING OF WOMEN AS MANAGERS AND PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN IN PHARMACY BY MEN AND WOMEN PHARMACY SCHOOL GRADUATES

MARVIN DEAN SHEPHERD, Purdue University

Abstract

A study was conducted to: (a) compare the practice involvement patterns of men and women pharmacists; (b) measure stereotypic attitudes towards women as managers of pharmacy graduates; and (c) measure beliefs or perceptions of pharmacists concerning women in pharmacy. In January 1980, a pre-tested 12-page questionnaire was mailed to 2,100 pharmacy school alumni from six schools of pharmacy across the nation. An equal number of men and women alumni who had graduated in the years of 1960 through 1978 were included in the survey. After one follow-up post card reminder a total of 767 completed, usable questionnaires were returned due to incorrect addresses. The sample was comprised of 57.5 percent women. Overall 85.6 percent of the respondents reported that they were presently employed as a pharmacist. Forty-five men and 67 women were not currently practicing pharmacy. Practicing male pharmacists practiced pharmacy on the average of 43.0 hours per week and women worked 34.2 hours. A total of 65.7 percent of the women and 91.2 percent of the men worked full-time (36 hours per week or more). Using total yearly hours worked reported by the practicing respondents, women worked 77.4 percent of the number of hours worked by men pharmacists. Also, it was found that women had substantially increased their participation in the pharmacy work force since 1971. Results showed that children living at home was inversely related to the number of hours worked by women. Pre-school children and newborn children were found to be significant variables that affected the work behavior of practicing pharmacists. The number of children in the family was not found to be significant. This inverse relationship between children and hours worked changed to a positive relationship when the children became older. Other variables examined for the effects on number of hours worked were, practice environment, pharmacists' age, marital status, and position. In the analysis on non-practicing respondents, current occupations, opinions on pharmacy education, reasons why they were not practicing and future practice plans were examined. A total of 40.5 percent of the men and 60.9 percent of the women non-practicing respondents planned on returning to practice within the next five years. Results on pharmacists' position showed that women were under-represented in managerial positions and over-represented in staff level positions when age was controlled. Women were found to be significantly under-represented in managerial positions for independently owned and chain store pharmacies, but not for hospital pharmacies. A discriminant analysis on pharmacists position showed that advanced education was a significant factor for upward mobility for hospital pharmacists but not for community pharmacists. Other significant variables were, years with employer, age and number of times left pharmacy practice. The Women As Managers Scale (WAMS) was used to measure stereotypic attitudes of non-respondents. Women were found to have a significantly more favorable attitude than men toward women in management. There were no significant differences in attitude scores when age, practice environment, pharmacy position, sex of the pharmacist's supervisor, and the number of times the respondent had practiced with a women were controlled. Community and hospital pharmacists' perceptions of women in pharmacy were measured along with respondent's opinions on why women were entering the profession, sex discrimination in pharmacy, continuing education for inactive pharmacists, satisfaction with pharmacy, advantages and disadvantages for women pharmacists and membership in pharmacy associations.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Pharmaceuticals

COinS