Gender discrimination among professional college students in Agartala, India: a cross-sectional study

Rituparna Das; Shampa Das; Sankha S. Debnath

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20162589

Authors

Rituparna Das Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura (W), India
Shampa Das Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura (W), India
Sankha S. Debnath Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura (W), India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20162589

Keywords:

Gender discrimination, College students, Emotional stress

Abstract

Background: Professional college students being at the base of the hierarchy of professional occupation may be vulnerable to harassment, discrimination and abuse regarding their gender. The present study was conducted with the objective to assess the prevalence and pattern of Gender discrimination among professional college students in Agartala, and to study their emotional response towards gender discrimination.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September to November, 2015 among students of 5 randomly selected Professional colleges of Agartala. Sample size was calculated and 450 professional college students were included in the study.

Results: The present study revealed that the prevalence of gender discrimination among the professional college students was 12.45% with both the males and females being victims of gender discrimination (6.80% vs 5.56%, p value 0.77). There was a significant difference in the type of discrimination experienced by the male and female students (p value-0.01) and male faculties were the main perpetrators of gender discrimination. Regarding the emotional response towards gender discrimination majority of the students complained of frustration (28.57%) followed by helplessness (26.78%) and depression (23.21%).

Conclusions: Gender discrimination can be controlled in the college premises with collective efforts to minimize the belief that one sex has rights, leadership qualities, and academic status greater than that of the other sex.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Carr PL, Ash AS, Friedman RH. Faculty perceptions of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in academic medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2000;132(11):889-96.

Report on the Gender Initiative: Gender Equality in Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship. Available at: http//gender%20discrimination/Gender %20 discrimination/48111145%20report.pdf.

Hashmi AM, Rehman A, Butt Z, Aftab MA, Shahid A, Khan SA. Gender discrimination among medical students in Pakistan: A cross sectional survey. Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(2):449-53.

Frank E, Carrera JS, Stratton T. Experiences of belittlement and harassment and their correlates among medical students in the United States: longitudinal survey. BMJ. 2006;333(7570):682.

Moscarello R, Margittai KJ, Rossi M. Differences in abuse reported by female and male Canadian medical students. Canadian Med Assoc J. 1994;150(3):357.

Lempp H, Seale C. Medical students’ perception in relation to ethnicity and gender: a qualitative study. BMC Med Educ. 2006;6(1):17.

Cook DJ, Liutkus JF, Risdon CL. Residents’ experiences of abuse, discrimination and sexual harassment during residency training. McMaster University Residency Training Programs. Canadian Med Assoc J. 1996;154(11):1657.