Tackling sexist inequality in medical school

Webb, Freya E; Gibbons, Kate; El-Ahwany, Nina L

doi:10.1136/bmj.n2302

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Numerous studies have proposed strategies to address gender inequity in postgraduate settings, 31 – 33 but there is a notable gap at the undergraduate level. Our study proposes strategies to reduce and potentially eliminate gender inequity within clinical clerkships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Inequity in Clinical Clerkships and its Influence on Career Selection: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Dawood,

Roshan,

Daniyal

et al. 2024

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development

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Objective The aim of this study was to identify the frequency, form, and underlying factors contributing to gender inequity experienced by medical undergraduates and assess its influence on their career choices. Method This was a cross-sectional, retrospective survey with a 100% response rate. This survey was distributed among medical students of clinical years in Karachi's private and government medical colleges from September 10th, 2021-March 30th, 2022. 430 participants were enrolled using a simple-random-sampling-technique. Chi-square/Fisher's Exact tests are employed to assess the relationships between gender and gender-based inequity in various specialties, including their characteristics, influence on career choices, adverse psychological effects, and potential mitigation strategies. Results Among 430 respondents, 28.6% were male, and 71.4% were female. 89.1% reported gender inequity, evenly distributed in government (80.4%) and private institutions (88.1%). The general surgery and gynecology disciplines stood out, each with a 56% prevalence. In gynecology and surgery clinical-clerkships, both genders experienced similar rates, with females at 54.5% and 42.3%, and males at 56.7% and 61.6%, respectively (P-value = .000*). Disrespect from staff/professors/patients (48.8%) was the most common manifestation, driven by factors like preferences (73.7%), gender superiority (62.6%), societal attitudes (54%), and cultural norms (50.9%). Furthermore, 82.6% of students reported that gender inequity had a negative impact on their career decision (Male = 82.9%;Female = 82.4%, P-value = .899). Additionally, gender inequity also caused demotivation (78.1%), poor self-esteem (67.2%), helplessness/hopelessness (48.6%), and frustration (45.8%). Conclusions Gender inequity is widely prevalent in the clinical-clerkships, affecting medical students’ career decisions and mental health, stressing the need to prioritize and implement solutions at the undergraduate clinical-clerkship level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Inequity in Clinical Clerkships and its Influence on Career Selection: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Dawood,

Roshan,

Daniyal

et al. 2024

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development

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“…Students across other universities are experiencing and speaking out about similar encounters; this was evidenced when victims from other institutions reached out during this project [ 61 ]. Sexism and discrimination generally need to be actively monitored in order to provide future evidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Medical Students’ Experiences of Sexism during Clinical Placements: A Qualitative Study

Ibrahim

Riley

2023

Healthcare

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In the UK, more women are studying medicine than men, most of whom have experienced sexism, yet these experiences are under-researched. This qualitative study explores female medical students’ experiences of sexism on placement, impacts sustained, barriers and facilitators encountered upon reporting. A total of 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted, employing purposive sampling, snowball sampling and an inductive thematic analysis. A qualitative methodology was underpinned by the feminist social constructionist theory. Four themes were identified: 1—experiences of sexism, comprising physical and verbal harassment and microaggressions; 2—negative impacts of sexist encounters ranged from psychosocial to repercussions on learning and development; 3—systemic and attitudinal barriers to reporting; 4—recommendations to tackle sexism shaped by the views and experiences of female medical student participants. Female medical students experienced wide-ranging sexism which negatively impacted their wellbeing with negative repercussions for their training and development. The barriers to reporting need to be urgently addressed, and systems, policies and processes need to be over-hauled to sensitively, effectively and equitably manage and provide justice to students who experience and report sexism. Students need to be empowered to respond, report and be offered psychological safety in doing so. Attitudes and practices which are complicit in sustaining sexism need to be challenged and changed.

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“…We were appalled to read about Webb and colleagues’ experiences of sexism as medical students, and we commend them for their bravery in speaking out 1…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%