Gender-Based Discrimination Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research Vol. 283; pp. 102 - 109
• Main Authors: Faria, Isabella, Campos, Letícia, Jean-Pierre, Tayana, Naus, Abbie, Gerk, Ayla, Cazumbá, Maria Luiza, Buda, Alexandra M., Graner, Mariana, Moura, Carolina B., Pendleton, Alaska, Pompermaier, Laura, Truche, Paul, Ferreira, Júlia Loyola, Bowder, Alexis N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-03-2023
• Subjects: Bias, implicit; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Education, medical, undergraduate; Female; Gender discrimination; Humans; Male; Schools, Medical; Sexism; Sexual Harassment; Students, Medical; Surveys and Questionnaires; Brazil; Education, medical, undergraduate; Surveys and questionnaires; Gender discrimination; Bias, implicit; medical; implicit Education; Bias; undergraduate
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.012

Gender-based discrimination (GBD) creates a hostile environment during medical school, affecting students' personal life and academic performance. Little is known about how GBD affects the over 204,000 medical students in Brazil. This study aims to explore the patterns of GBD experienced by medical students in Brazil.
This is a cross-sectional study using an anonymous, Portuguese survey disseminated in June 2021 among Brazilian medical students. The survey was composed of 24 questions to collect data on GBD during medical school, formal methods for reporting GBD, and possible solutions for GBD.
Of 953 responses, 748 (78%) were cisgender women, 194 (20%) were cisgender men, and 11 (1%) were from gender minorities. 65% (616/942) of respondents reported experiencing GBD during medical school. Women students experienced GBD more than men (77% versus 22%; P < 0.001). On comparing GBD perpetrator roles, both women (82%, 470/574) and men (64%, 27/42) reported the highest rate of GBD by faculty members. The occurrence of GBD by location differed between women and men. Only 12% (115/953) of respondents reported knowing their institution had a reporting mechanism for GBD.
Most respondents experienced GBD during medical school. Cisgender women experienced GBD more than cisgender men. Perpetrators and location of GBD differed for men and women. Finally, an alarming majority of students did not know how to formally report GBD in their schools. It is imperative to adopt broad policy changes to diminish the rate of GBD and its a consequential burden on medical students.