The Michigan Daily-Saturday, June 6, 1981-Page 3
CHANGING ROLES AND ERODING STER-JOTYPES
Women on med campus
By JENNY MILLER
In the past decade the number of
women in the ranks of medicine has in-
creased, and most women say 'sexist'
attitudes and stereotypes in general
have disappeared.
There are, however, some inherent
problems. for women in medical
schools. Few have achieved the higher-
paying senior levels in faculty or ad-
ministration, according to a recent
study in the New England Journal of
Medi.em. Also, having a family places
more pressure upon women doctors and
professors seeking tenure, and there
are still a few remnants of the old at-
titudes and stereotypes.
"THERE ARE some who treat
women as equal colleagues, and then
there are some who never forget you're
a woman," said Miriam Meisler,
associate professor of human genetics.
Jane Schultz, associate dean for
medical curriculum, said, "I don't
think it makes any difference what sex
you are" to make it to top ad-
ministration levels. But there are some
"undercurrents of attitude" among
faculty, she said. "I'm not saying there
is definitely no prejudice."
Schultz was one of the first women to
attain the level of associate dean at the
University. Nationwide, there are no
female medical school deans, accor-
ding to the New England Journal study.
THE NUMBER OF women faculty
members, Schultz said, "has not risen
nearly as fast as in admissions. The
pool is smaller."
It takes years to rise through the
ranks, she explained, and the small
pool of available women reflects the lag
in medical school admissions before
1970.
Meisler and Anita Payne, another
professor, said that last winter there
were two highly qualified women
denied tenure, who have since been of-
fered excellent tenured positions in
other institutions. There are no in-
dications of exactly why these women
were denied tenure.
"WOMEN HAVE tended to stay in
the lower ranks," said Maria Paluszny,
assistant dean for medical school ad-
missions. "I think generally our society
is still not geared toward women in
(many) professions."
The clinical, teaching, and research
requirements of tenure for medical
school professors are demanding,
Schultz said. "It's extra hard to keep up
a strong research program, because
with a family, women may drop behind.
It's an up-or-out situation," she said.
"Women don't have wives to help them
out like men do."
Many women said they were able to
handle a family and a faculty position
by employing housekeepers and child
care. "I think the attitude of husbands
is very important," Payne said. She
was recently promoted to full professor
status in the obstetrics and gynecology
department.
"I HAVE FOUND it quite feasible to
manage both," Meisler said. "I have a
See WOMEN, Page 11
Daily Photo by PAUL ENGSTROM
A new graduate of the Medical School, Stacey Gore receives a
congratulatory kiss from her father at commencement exercises yesterday.
In addition to graduating first in her class, she is the recipient of three
scholastic achievement awards. Dr. Gore plans a career in internal
medicine.
Renovations at Trueblood
New theater
additions
called 'big
unprovement
By PAM FICKINGER
About three years ago the University
Regents approved a proposal to
renovate the theater department's
Trueblood Theater. Last month, con-
struction finally got underway in the
Frieze Building, and a new arena-style
theater is expected to be completed and
opened by August.
Before it was purchased by the
University, the Frieze Building was Ann
Arbor High School. Because it was
designed to be the school's auditorium,
the Trueblood is "deplorable as a
theater," according to Craig Wolf,
lighting and technical director of the
Department of Theater and Drama.
THE DEPARTMENT has been
"trying to get Trueblood remodeled in
some way for 10 years, but there has
Doily Photo byPAIJ ENGIT ROM never been enough support or funding,"
Wolf said.
CRAIG WOLF, DIRECTOR of lighting for the University's Department of Theater and Drama inspects work being Audience members end up "staring
done in the Frieze Building to extensively renovate the Trueblood 'heater. The work, costing $135,000, will be com- at the back of someone's head" during
pleted by fall and includes construction of a circular arena theater. See TRUEBLOOD, Page 4