Gender equity in obstetrics and gynaecology – where are we heading?

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) was founded in 1998 by the amalgamation of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG) and the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZCOG) following a vote of all Fellows of both Colleges.1 RACOG was founded in 1978; prior to this time, Australian specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists had undertaken the examinations of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in London to become Members of RCOG, and after 12 years of clinical practice could be elevated to Fellowship status.1, 2 Up until the end of the 1970s most Australian and New Zealand doctors wanting to undertake specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology went to the United Kingdom, working for the National Health Service; the vast majority of these doctors were male.