A new group of female doctors has come together to collate and make available the largest database of female experts in all areas of medicine. The idea is to address the stark imbalance of male and female experts at medical conferences, by a creating a tool that will open access to female speakers for medical colleges and organisations.

The ‘good bloke who snaps‘ and murders his wife remains sadly familiar trope in the reporting of violence against women. But vilifying a murder victim as ‘aggressive’ in the opening paragraph of a news report while framing her husband as ‘quiet’ is worse still.

"Traditional uniforms are reinforcing traditional gender norms and expectations. When a kindergarten student can’t climb a tree, or a high schooler freezes in winter or isn’t comfortable playing sport at recess, simply because they ‘have to wear a dress to look nice,’ we clearly need to question our priorities. While these issues may seem trivial to some, they fuel the gendered expectations we have all learnt – the belief that girls aren’t strong or shouldn’t be physical."

"I’d like to suggest we try a new tactic, following Claire’s lead: we simply leave, or boycott, events that feature all-male panels — and tell the conference organisers why we’re doing so. Money talks, and a lack of delegate sales coming in will have a significant impact on how future programs are developed — as will any conference walkouts that may indicate a lack of money coming in at the next event."