GENDER PRESENTATION IN MEDICAL FIELD.pptx

GENDER

1. GROUP FOUR NASIYO TABITHA NANJEGO VICTORIA ATWINE DIDAS OWORINAWE AGGREY SSEMAKULA PAUL KYOKUSIMA PIUS KATO JOEL KYAMBADDE

2. GENDER ISSUES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION Introduction Medical education has historically been shaped by gender-based disparities, and despite progress in many areas, challenges persist. The focus is on Key gender-related issues faced by students, faculty, and institutions in the context of medical education, providing specific examples and highlighting their impact.

3. Gender Stereotypes in Curriculum Gendered associations with medical specialties often steer students toward certain fields based on gendered perceptions. Example: Surgical specialties like orthopedics, neurosurgery, and cardiology are often considered male-dominated, while women are more frequently encouraged into "nurturing" specialties like pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology. Impact : These stereotypes limit students' exploration of diverse career options, reinforcing traditional gender roles. Female students may feel less confident or supported in pursuing traditionally male-dominated fields.

4. Gender-Based Violence Sexual harassment and gender-based violence are persistent problems in medical education, often affecting female and LGBTQ+ students. Example : A 2018 study found that 30% of female medical students reported experiencing sexual harassment during their training. This harassment can range from inappropriate comments to more severe forms of harassment. Impact : Sexual harassment can cause emotional distress, undermine students' sense of safety, and negatively impact academic performance, leading to higher dropout rates for women in particular.

5. Discrimination in the Classroom Gender biases in the classroom lead to unequal participation, opportunities, and recognition for male and female students. Example: Studies indicate that female medical students are called upon less frequently in lectures and group discussions compared to their male peers. Additionally, their answers are sometimes disregarded or attributed to male classmates. Impact: This lack of recognition diminishes female students' academic experiences and can lead to a lack of confidence and academic disengagement. It also hinders their development of leadership skills.

6. Access to Education Cultural and economic factors often limit access to medical education for girls, particularly in underdeveloped or patriarchal societies. Example : In countries with entrenched gender norms, girls are often expected to take on domestic roles or marry early, preventing them from pursuing higher education or professional careers, including in medicine. Impact : These societal expectations create significant barriers for women to enter the medical field, resulting in lower enrollment rates for women in medical schools, particularly in rural or underdeveloped regions

7. School Facilities and Hygiene Poor school infrastructure, including inadequate sanitation facilities, disproportionately impacts female students, especially during menstruation. Example : In some medical schools, particularly in low-income countries, female students do not have access to private or clean bathrooms, which is a basic need. This can be especially difficult for students during their menstruation cycles. Impact : Female students may miss classes, feel uncomfortable, or even avoid attending school, which directly impacts their academic success and overall well-being.

8. Gender Pay Gap in Education A significant gender pay gap exists in academic medicine, where female faculty and staff members are paid less than their male counterparts for similar roles and responsibilities. Example : A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that female physicians earn about 25% less than male physicians, despite having similar qualifications, experience, and patient outcomes. Impact : This wage disparity not only limits career satisfaction and advancement for women but also perpetuates gender inequality within medical academia

9. Sexuality Education Insufficient or inadequate training in sexual and reproductive health, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ issues, affects students' ability to provide comprehensive care. Example : A survey of U.S. medical schools found that 40% of students reported receiving little to no education on LGBTQ+ health topics, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender-affirming care. Impact : Medical professionals may feel unprepared to treat LGBTQ+ patients, leading to disparities in healthcare quality and patient outcomes for these marginalized groups.

10. Gendered Expectations of Behavior Gender expectations shape how medical students are perceived and how they perform in their roles as future doctors. Example : Female students in surgical fields may be labeled as "too emotional" or "too soft" to succeed, while male students may be expected to show strong leadership and decisiveness. Similarly, women may be criticized for being assertive or ambitious. Impact : These gendered expectations limit women's opportunities for growth in fields like surgery and leadership roles, while reinforcing harmful stereotypes that undermine their professional potential.

11. Female Representation in Leadership Women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions in medical education, despite comprising a large proportion of the student body. Example : In many medical schools, women are rarely seen as deans, department chairs, or faculty leaders. Even when women are hired into leadership positions, they often face additional challenges, such as microaggressions and gender bias. Impact : The lack of female representation in leadership reduces diverse perspectives in decision-making processes and can influence institutional policies in ways that fail to consider gender equity.

12. Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Sexual harassment continues to be a serious issue in medical schools, with female students and residents often facing harassment from faculty supervisors, or colleagues. Example : According to a 2014 study by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 1 in 4 female medical students reported experiencing sexual harassment during their training. Impact : This harassment undermines the safety and well-being of students, leading to emotional distress, decreased academic performance, and even prompting some students to leave the profession.

13. Teacher Bias and Gendered Expectations Implicit gender biases can affect how instructors treat students, leading to unequal opportunities. Example : Female medical students are more likely to be assigned to “nurturing” roles (e.g., patient care) while male students may be given more leadership or decision-making opportunities. Impact : This gendered division limits female students' exposure to high-level experiences and hinders their development of leadership and clinical decision-making skills.

14. Gender and Educational Outcomes Although women generally perform better academically than men in medical schools, they still face systemic barriers in career advancement. Example : Female students consistently outperform male students in exams, but they are still underrepresented in prestigious research positions and leadership roles. Impact : Despite academic success, gender discrimination limits women’s career advancement, which perpetuates the underrepresentation of women in certain specialties and senior positions.

15. Economic Barriers to Education for women Economic and societal barriers prevent women from pursuing medical education in many regions, especially in low-income countries. Example : In some cultures, women are expected to prioritize domestic roles, and families may invest their limited resources in boys' education over girls'. Impact : This limits the number of women entering medical schools, especially in impoverished regions where access to education is already a significant issue.