To mark International Women’s Day, the French Private Hospital Federation is continuing its series of testimonials on equality in healthcare. The aim is to bring together the perspectives of professionals in the field on gender diversity, career development and access to positions of responsibility.
Gender equality in health: the perspective of Pierre-Yves de Kerimel, Director
A feminisation of professions still marked by culture
According to DREES, nearly 90% of nurses and nursing assistants are women. For Pierre-Yves de Kerimel, this reality can be explained primarily by cultural bias.
‘We have more women who are predisposed to this profession, or conversely, fewer men,’ he observes. This representation influences career choices from the training stage onwards. It perpetuates the idea that certain professions are more feminine than others. However, in his establishments, male nurses are fully engaged in their work. He emphasises that gender diversity remains a goal, as it brings balance to teams. ‘It has a positive impact on the way problems are approached.’
Feminisation of the medical profession: a concrete organisational impact
In 2025, women became the majority among doctors for the first time. In its establishments, 80% of medical teams are made up of women.
Pierre-Yves de Kerimel observes effects similar to those seen among nurses. More female doctors work part-time, often for family reasons. This situation requires appropriate organisational arrangements.
‘The famous 80% on Wednesdays raises organisational issues,’ he explains. Compromises are sometimes necessary to ensure continuity of care. Here again, solutions have been found: fixed daily rates, specific arrangements, nursery places.
He highlights the paradox of a generation of young professionals, with an average age of under 40, where the distribution of family responsibilities remains largely unequal.
Gender diversity in teams: a factor in achieving balance
For Pierre-Yves de Kerimel, gender diversity is an asset in terms of the quality of care and team dynamics.
‘Men and women are different and complementary,’ he says. In mixed teams, he observes a more calm management of high-stress situations. Relationships seem more balanced and less conflictual to him.
This complementarity strengthens cohesion and promotes a peaceful working environment, benefiting both patients and professionals.
Gender equality in healthcare: the perspective of Caroline Lixon, director of Psy Pro Grenoble
Image of professions and professional recognition
The highly gendered distribution of healthcare professions also influences their image. For Caroline Lixon, professional positioning still differs between women and men.
She believes that women often show themselves to be more ‘adaptable’ and ‘less prone to direct conflict’. This attitude can influence the symbolic or financial recognition of certain professions.
Hospital governance: towards greater gender parity?
The issue of women’s access to positions of responsibility remains central. Caroline Lixon believes that a change in mindset is necessary. ‘Today, a woman has to act like a man to be recognised, which is damaging,’ she points out.
To promote the feminisation of management and governance positions in the health sector, she cites the need for greater gender parity. In her view, a deliberate rebalancing process could ultimately lead to true equality.
Every manager, whether male or female, has their own vision and way of working. The challenge is therefore to recognise this diversity as an asset, not an exception.
Through this testimony, the Private Hospital Federation reaffirms that gender equality in healthcare is a key issue for the future of healthcare institutions. Gender diversity in teams and balanced access to positions of responsibility contribute fully to the quality of care and the collective dynamic of the sector.
Gender equality in healthcare: the perspective of Coline, a nurse at the Saujon Clinic
The challenges of sustainable professional equality
To ensure sustainable professional equality in the years to come, several challenges remain. Coline cites equal pay and fair access to positions of responsibility as priorities.
Work-life balance is also a major issue, particularly in terms of working hours and parenting. Finally, she stresses the importance of combating gender stereotypes and promoting gender diversity in all healthcare specialities and professions.
With regard to governance, she notes that a certain degree of diversity already exists in her institution. At the Saujon clinic, both women and men hold management and supervisory positions.
To go further, she insists on the need to guarantee equal access to positions of responsibility and to combat bias in recruitment processes, particularly those related to maternity.
Read all the testimonies
