[Medical research and gender. An analysis of the preclinical departments at the University of Copenhagen].

The proportion of women among Danish medical graduates increased from 25% to 50% in the years 1970 to 1996. The proportion of women among the medical scientific staff has, however, not changed significantly over this period. At The University of Copenhagen women comprised 16% of the preclinical faculty in 1970 and 21% in 1996, and today's lack of women cannot be explained as a legacy from previous periods. The construction of a professional hierarchy is central in any discussion of position and influence in scientific research. Women at the medical faculties have in many respects a peripheral position. Relatively few have a postgraduate medical degree, they are in general not employed in traditional medical research areas such as physiology and anatomy, and there are disproportionately fewer among the professors. The authors argue that the women's position as non-doctors in low-status areas results in a lack of influence and access to resources.