Gender inequality and occupational risks in nursing Section: Health and quality of life How to quote Vallejo De la Hoz G, Del Hierro Gurruchaga M, Reglero García M. Desigualdad de género y riesgos laborales en Enfermerería. Metas Enferm 2013; 16(6):62-66. Authors1Gorka Vallejo De la Hoz, 2Maite Del Hierro Gurruchaga, 3Leire Reglero García Position 1Enfermero. Hospital Galdakao-Usansolo (Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud) Bilbao. Profesor Asociado. Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería. 2Matrona del Colegio de Enfermería de Bizkaia. Departamento de Enfermería, escuela de enfermería de Leioa. 3Hospital de Basurto. Servicio Vasco de salud, Bilbao, España. Contact address Prof. Dr. Gorka Vallejo De la Hoz. Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería. Campus de Vizcaya Barrio Sarriena, s/n. 48940. Leioa (Vizcaya). Contact email: gorka.vallejo@ehu.es Abstract Nursing, a professional setting formed by women in its majority, still represents today a working group exposed to gender inequality. Recently, there has been a gradual increase in the rhythm, requirements, demands, and workload of professional nurses, and the same occurs in other professions with female prevalence. The responsibility of balancing work and domestic life lies heavily upon nurses, a situation which represents a work overload, and leads to a reduction in quality of life and, occasionally, forces to reduce the working day to part-time. Moreover, nursing professionals form a group with known occupational risks, primarily exposed to physical, biologic, chemical and psychosocial risks. All these variables must be taken into account in order to prevent complications, and to improve the health levels of nurses. Keywords: Gender; inequalityoccupational risks Versión en Español Título: Desigualdad de género y riesgos laborales en Enfermería