Gender Stereotypes Cannot Dictate My Choices And Limit My Potential-Youngest Neurosurgeon.
On International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 each year to honour women’s achievements, acknowledge their societal contributions, promote gender equality, and raise awareness about issues like reproductive rights, violence, and abuse against women, it is crucial to recognise that women globally encounter specific hurdles such as gender bias, discrimination, and underrepresentation in various sectors.
They often must work harder to prove themselves and overcome stereotypes. Nonetheless, many women have succeeded in breaking barriers and excelling in male-dominated fields.
Take Dr Sylvie Inyange, for example, who graduated from the University of Rwanda (UR) in November last year and went on to become the second, and youngest, female neurosurgeon in Rwanda.
Even more impressive was that Inyange completed her entire neurosurgical training in Rwanda, and was the only woman in her cohort.
Neurosurgery is one of the most complicated medical fields. It takes approximately 10 to 15 years of training and is a very challenging specialty, involving many on-call duties and a high degree of risk.
This medical specialty involves the surgical treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This can include procedures to treat conditions such as brain tumours, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, and movement disorders.
Today, 33-year-old Inyange is completely immersed in her work, working around the clock to save lives in her first year of professional practice.
Line of work
When we met up with Inyange at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) where she works, it was evident that every second of her time counts.
She was drawn to this specialty by the desire to make a difference in a field with few professionals. Inyange studied her initial six years of secondary education at the Huye-based Ecole Notre Dame de La Providence de Karubanda (ENDPK,) before she joined the University of Rwanda (UR) to pursue a six-year course in medicine.
Additionally, she did another six years of Master’s studies in medicine, with a focus on neurosurgery at UR’s College of Medicine and Pharmacy, and graduated on November 17, 2023, to officially start practice, joining Dr Claire Karekezi, who at the time was the only female Rwandan neurosurgeon.
Looking back, it was not the course she wanted to pursue—having had her eyes on civil engineering, given her proficiency in mathematics and other sciences.
“Initially, I nurtured a childhood aspiration of becoming a doctor. Yet, during my secondary school years, I found myself torn between that dream and the allure of civil engineering, driven by my prowess in mathematics, which exceeded my performance in other sciences,” Inyange told The New Times.
Despite this internal conflict, she remained committed to the ambition of becoming a medical doctor and joined the medical school.
“It was during my fourth year that my interest in neurosurgery was sparked. Inspired by one of my senior colleagues, I found the field captivating, enjoyable, and profoundly impactful, leading me to embark on the path of becoming a neurosurgeon,” she adds.
I was acutely aware of the stereotypes and biases that exist within the field, with some arguing that it is primarily an area for men. However, rather than seeing these challenges as insurmountable barriers, I choose to view them as opportunities for growth and empowerment,” Inyange observed.
She thought to herself “If they could do it why not me?”, and since then, her passion for neurosurgery and unwavering determination to pursue her dreams have been the driving force behind her decision to defy societal norms and pursue a career in this male-dominated field.
“I refuse to let gender stereotypes dictate my choices and limit my potential. I firmly believe that competence knows no gender. I have worked tirelessly to develop my skills and acquire knowledge,” she asserted.
Credit: The New Times (Rwanda)
