A Pilot Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Student Experiences in Application to U.S. Medical Schools

Bibliographic Data

ID7315372
AuthorsTyler J Lockman (Northwestern University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume69
Issue9
Pages1485-1500
Publication date2021-04-20
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Homosexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-8369 • E-ISSN: 1540-3602
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00918369.2021.1917221
PMID33877008
OpenAlexW3153218332
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited25

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) students in the United States experience adverse dynamics as undergraduates and as medical students, including discrimination or fear of it, heightened stress, and lower social support. Yet little is known about the experiences of SGM medical school applicants. An original survey distributed via SGM student groups at 10 allopathic medical schools in the Midwest yielded quantitative and qualitative data about disclosure of SGM identities during application, experiences of support and discrimination, and resources used. A majority (61.9%) of respondents (n = 42) withheld SGM identities during primary application, most often due to fear of discrimination. A majority (73.8%) expected little or no support from medical schools when deciding whether to disclose SGM identities. Four (12.9%) of 31 total respondents who at some point disclosed an SGM identity experienced discrimination, and three of five (60.0%) gender minorities who disclosed experienced discrimination. Recommendations are offered in light of results

Gender discrimination · Gender identity · Human sexuality · Sexual identity · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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