Women’s representation and limitations of quotas

Women make up the majority of newly qualified doctors. It is imperative that they are well represented on all BMA committees.12Quotas can be an easy and quick way to remedy decades of unfairness, but they cannot be a long term solution.Quotas filled by committees can lead to nepotism, with promotion of people close to committee members.3 They also demean the achievements of those who got there by merit and talent. Those chosen to fill a quota can become weighed down by imposter syndrome.4Quotas can have unintended consequences and can entrench existing prejudices. For example, more than 75 years of quotas for people from lower castes has paradoxically entrenched the caste system and partly contributed to brain drain from India.5Non-quota based selection processes should be considered to improve the representation of women.6 Fewer women standing for election and, worryingly, fewer women voting in elections suggests organisational and structural problems in addition…
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