Determinants of career structure and advancement among Italian cardiologists - An example of segregation and discrimination against women?

Aims The aim of this study was to analyse the processes through which job, career and research-related choices are determined in Italian cardiology, f ocusing on characteristics such as productivity, gender and family. Methods and Results In June 1996, a questionnaire surveying individual and career-related data was mailed to all members (8000) of the Italian societi es of cardiology. Returned questionnaires numbered 1715 (21.4% of the total mailed), 83% were completed by men and 17% by women. For both hospital and academic careers, advancement in rank was influenced by variables denoting productivity, family and individual characteristics. However, men and wome n showed slightly different patterns. Conclusions Promotion to the upper ranks of the hierarchy was highly depend ent upon time (once the effects of the covariates were eliminated). This si tuation is typical of the internal labour market, that is, in institutions in which staff members are ranked on a hierarchical scale according to form al criteria that are 'rigid' and institutionalized, partially sheltered fro m competition. Therefore, once a member has gained access to the bottom of the hierarchy, the professional career is 'pre-determined' and seniority ha s an appreciable influence on promotion decisions; in this context, women a ppear to be at a disadvantage.