Exploring the intersectionality of race and gender on the incidence of and response to microaggression experienced by Asian American women medical students

Joanna Chen; Joyce Pang; Crystal An; B U K Li; Sunny Nakae; Lindy Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.116007

Exploring the intersectionality of race and gender on the incidence of and response to microaggression experienced by Asian American women medical students

Am J Surg. 2024 Oct 5:239:116007. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.116007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Joanna Chen¹, Joyce Pang², Crystal An³, B U K Li⁴, Sunny Nakae⁵, Lindy Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 2801 W. Bancroft, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 9501 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Medical Education, California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine, 1501 Violet Street, Colton, CA, 92324, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39427461
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.116007

Abstract

Background: Discrimination faced by Asian American trainees in medical school include those reported by female trainees. This study aims to characterize the microaggressions faced by Asian American woman medical students.

Methods: We use a mixed methods approach to characterize the experiences of Asian Americans in United States (US) medical schools through an anonymous online survey and participation in focus groups.

Results: Among our 305 participants, 65.9 % were women. More women experienced microaggressions than men (p < 0.001). Compared to men, women reported significantly higher rates of supervisors having higher expectations of them, implying they were submissive, and describing them as too quiet. Women felt that their experiences with microaggressions were entangled with being Asian and a woman, but could not distinguish which identity was being targeted.

Conclusion: The intersectionality of being Asian American and a woman in medical training has not been explored. We found that this duality intensified experiences of microaggressions.

Keywords: Asian American; Gender inequality; Intersectionality; Microaggression; Women in medicine.

Published by Elsevier Inc.