Optometry Australia took up the challenge set by International Women’s Day 2022 to #BreakTheBias
in optometry workplaces. We invited six of our members to share their experiences with gender bias in optometry. We then took a deeper dive and conducted a survey in March 2022, attracting responses from 320 members.
The survey results revealed that unfortunately, gender bias, discrimination, harassing and/or aggressive behaviour within optometry exists on many levels. Members reported being subjected to sexist and crude remarks, jokes and gestures, verbal abuse and worryingly, physical abuse.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) cites that between 8% and 38% of health workers suffer physical violence at some point in their careers with many more threatened or exposed to verbal aggression. WHO also says that most violence is perpetrated by patients and visitors.
Likewise, our survey results cited patients and the families of patients as the perpetrators of significant aggressive behaviour in optometry practices. Disappointingly, 28% of members who responded to our survey cited practice owners and managers as key contributors.
Some members also feel uncomfortable when they have to spend time in a darkened consulting room with patients of another gender although thankfully, their workplace ensures that they are not alone in the practice and they can call for assistance if needed.
And while the majority of workplaces have a harassment and bullying policy, some members fear going to work while others are fearful to speak out against this type of behaviour in their workplace.
This type of behaviour in any workplace is unacceptable and Optometry Australia calls on all members to join us and say: Respect. Always! These two powerful words proclaim that any form of bias, harassment or aggression will not be tolerated within optometry.
Read more about the #BreakTheBias survey results here.