Gendered Physiotherapy in Transition - the Swedish Case

Abstract

In order to determine gender distributions in Swedish physiotherapy, mail questionnaires were sent to approximately 1100 physiotherapists (77.5% response rate) in 1996 inquiring about male-female differences in professional strategies, focusing on two questions regarding power structure in the workplace and relation to the professional knowledge base. Some findings support the idea that there are male-female differences, specific to different specialities. A generational pattern is also visible, possibly related to external changes in the composition of patient groups, the social insurance system, the healthcare system and the labour market. Younger female physiotherapists work with elderly care more often than their older colleagues do. In addition, the younger group works more closely with its horizontal neighbours, as do female physiotherapists compared to males. The younger ones are not so bound to physicians as their older colleagues were. One possible explanation is that younger physiotherapists are less socialized into physician-dominated collaboration. However, this is something they will eventually learn as they advance in their careers.