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Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 1998 Nov;90(11):681–688.

Perceived barriers and biases in the medical education experience by gender and race.

C M Bright 1, C A Duefield 1, V E Stone 1
PMCID: PMC2608378  PMID: 9828583

Abstract

This study examined barriers and biases in the medical education experience by surveying fourth-year medical students. There were 270 female and 288 male respondents; their racial background was: 21% Asian, 13% underrepresented minorities, and 66% white. Women reported that the careers they were encouraged to pursue were affected by their gender (44% versus 15%) and they were often mistaken for a nonphysician (92% versus 3%). More importantly, women reported that the lack of a mentor of either gender as a large barrier (27% versus 19%). Underrepresented minorities reported that their race caused them to feel that they had to be twice as good to be treated as an equal to other students (52% versus 6%). Underrepresented minorities identified the lack of a same-race mentor (23% versus 4%) and role model (40% versus 1%) as a large barrier. Underrepresented minorities also noted an overall lack of mentors as a large barrier (25% versus 19%). Women and underrepresented minorities from the class of 1996 reported having a medical school experience characterized by similar barriers to their professional development.

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Selected References

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