Analysis of Gender Discrimination in the Academic Environment: Frequency, Forms, and Student Perspectives

This study examines the prevalence and impact of gender discrimination among medicalstudents at Karol Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznań. As a pathway to highly demandingprofessions, medical education often exposes students to hierarchical structures and intense socialinteractions where discriminatory behaviors may flourish. By exploring the frequency, nature, andconsequences of such incidents, this research aims to illuminate the systemic challenges thatundermine equity in medical training and practice. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of gender on career decisions, including howsocietal expectations and personal aspirations (e.g., the desire to have children) shape specialtychoices and professional trajectories. According to the results of this study, women are significantlymore likely than men to experience gender-based discrimination, with the disparity being mostpronounced in the early years of study and decreasing over time, suggesting that prolonged exposurenormalizes such experiences for both genders. Men are more often perpetrators when holdingpositions of power, whereas, among peers, women engage in discriminatory behavior at similar rates.The academic environment facilitates discrimination, with incidents occurring more frequently duringclasses than in informal settings, particularly in spaces where academic activities are most frequent.Both men and women perceive discrimination as detrimental to career development and mentalhealth. Situating these findings within the global context of gender disparities in healthcare, thisresearch highlights the need for targeted interventions to combat discrimination and foster a moreinclusive medical community. Poznan University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee: 360/23