Abstract
Background: There is substantial theoretical and empirical evidence indicating the presence of gender discrimination in the field of medicine. By entering the medical profession, women have transcended traditional gender roles and actively engaged in professional activism, yet they continue to face structural barriers. This study aims to identify the structural aspects of gender discrimination experienced by female students in medical education, focusing on the causal, contextual, and mediating factors and their consequences.
Methods: This qualitative study, conducted within a critical paradigm, employed grounded theory to describe and analyze the findings. The primary motivation for choosing it is to access knowledge grounded in real and up-to-date data. By fostering a deeper understanding, it serves as a reliable guide for action. The research was conducted at a University within Iran’s medical sciences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with fifteen, sixth- and seventh-year general medicine students.
Results: The central category “Struggle between agency and discrimination” was identified. Key causal conditions include “gender stereotypes” and “structural discriminations”. The consequences are: Suppression of capabilities & self-efficacy, psychological & mental stress, low professional advancement, sexual and psychological harm, academic exhaustion, tendency to migrate.
Conclusion: This research offers a deeper understanding of the structural aspects of gender discrimination in medical education. By addressing specific issues within the field, it provides practical suggestions for improving conditions and reforming the medical education system to eliminate gender discrimination, drawing on sociological knowledge and a critical approach.