Perception of Medical Students Regarding Gender Discrimination in Their Learning Environment

Authors

mahnoor jathol Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
Irem Rasheed Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
Ameelia Sadaqat Lahore Medical and Dental College
Waleed Ahmad Lahore Medical and Dental College/ Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
Amal Rana
Rameen Arshad Lahore Medical and Dental College/ Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
Sadaf Saddiq Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51273/esc24.25132022

Keywords:

Gender discrimination, Gender disparity, Gender inequality

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate perception of gender discrimination among students in medical colleges.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive study was conducted among 316 students in one public and one private
medical college of Lahore from December 2023 to March 2024 through a self-administered questionnaire. Associations were determined between background variables and gender discrimination responses using chi-
square test of independence with p-value <0.05.SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis.
Results: In our study female students voiced higher rates of dissatisfaction with their medical college experiencing
unequal treatment in both lectures (p = 0.001) and in wards (p = 0.007).Female students perceived that there is
disadvantage associated with having a child during education (p = 0.038) and expressed greater concerns
about parenting during medical studies (p = 0.038). They reported getting lesser opportunities for advancement
like applying for doctoral thesis as compared to male students. Both genders felt that females are given preferences in getting scholarships.
Conclusion: Gender disparities persist in medical college experiences, with female students reporting higher
dissatisfaction, fewer opportunities, and unequal treatment. Initiatives are needed to address these disparities
and promote gender equality in medical education.

References

Najjar I, Socquet J, Gayet-Ageron A, et al. Prevalence and forms of gender discrimination and sexual harassment among medical students and physicians in French-speaking Switzerland: a survey. BMJ Open 2022;12:e049520. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2021-049520

Jackson KR, Drolet BC. #MedicineToo—Gender Bias in Medical Training: A National Survey of Residents. J Gen Intern Med. 2021;36(12):3894–6.

SESUGH US. Knowledge and Experience of Gender-Based Discrimination Among Medical Doctors and Medical Students in Nigeria. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2022;5(2):45–66.

Berlin G, Darino L, Greenfield M. Women in the healthcare industry. Mc Kinsey and Company, 2019. Available: https://www.mckinsey. com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/ women-in-the-healthcare-industry#

World Health Organization. Delivered by Women, Led by Men:A Gender and Equity Analysis of the Global Health and Social Workforce. WHO, 2019. Available: http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/ health-observer24/en

Hull B, Pestrin O, Brennan CM, Hackney R, Scott CEH. Women in Surgery Events Alone do not Change Medical Student Perceptions of Gender Bias and Discrimination in Orthopaedic Surgery. Front Surg. 2022;9(May):1–8.

P V, B. S D, S. R. The impact of perceived gender bias on obstetrics and gynecology learning experience among medical interns. Indian J Forensic Community Med. 2020;5(3):160–3.

Atwa H , Alkhadragy R, Abdelaziz A. Medical Students' Perception of the Educational Environment in a Gender-Segregated Undergraduate Program. J Med Edu. 2020;19(3):e104934. https://doi.org/10.5812/jme.104934.

Faria I, Campos L, Jean-Pierre T, Naus A, Gerk A, Cazumbá ML, Buda AM, Graner M, Moura CB, Pendleton A, Pompermaier L, Truche P, Ferreira JL, Bowder AN. Gender-Based Discrimination Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil. J Surg Res. 2023 Mar;283:102-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.012. Epub 2022 Nov 15. Erratum in: J Surg Res. 2023 Jan 3;284:251. PMID: 36399801.

AlQirem, L., Al-Huneidy, L., Hammouri, M., Taha, H., Al-Somadi, H., Al-Bitar, F., Kitaneh, R., Al-Huneidy, Y., Al-Somadi, H., Ashour, O., Sayed, F., Mohammed, D., Abu Tawileh, R., & Al-Ani, A. (2022). Perceived barriers towards the importance and application of medical research: a source of gender disparity among medical undergraduates. BMC Medical Education, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03822-9

Dason, ES (Dason, Ebernella Shirin) ; Maxim, M (Maxim, Madalina) ; Gesink, D (Gesink, Dionne) ; Yee, M (Yee, Michelle) ; Chan, CYL (Chan, Crystal) ; Baxter, NN (Baxter, Nancy N.) ; Shapiro, H (Shapiro, Heather) ; Simpson, AN (Simpson, Andrea N.)Medical students perspective on family planning and impact on speciality choice.JAMA SURGERY Volume159Issue2Page170-178DOI10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6392

Ibrahim, D., & Riley, R. (2023). Female Medical Students’ Experiences of Sexism during Clinical Placements: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare (Switzerland), 11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11071002

Bol, T. (2023). Gender inequality in cum laude distinctions for PhD students. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46375-7

Wijnen, M. N., Massen, J. J. M., & Kret, M. E. (2021). Gender bias in the allocation of student grants. Scientometrics, 126(7), 5477–5488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-03985-0

Downloads

Published

2024-07-18

How to Cite

jathol mahnoor, Rasheed I, Sadaqat A, Ahmad W, Rana A, Arshad R, Saddiq S. Perception of Medical Students Regarding Gender Discrimination in Their Learning Environment. Esculapio - JSIMS [Internet]. 2024 Jul. 18 [cited 2024 Dec. 21];20(2). Available from: https://esculapio.pk/journal/index.php/journal-files/article/view/1127