SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Gender Bias in Medical School Admissions in Japan

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This study examined gender bias in Japanese medical school admissions before and after the disclosure of unauthorized discriminatory practices. Using Ministry of Education data from 2017–2020, the researchers compared the number of male and female applicants and successful candidates at four medical schools. The years 2017–2018 were treated as the pre-disclosure period, and 2019–2020 as the post-disclosure period. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess whether admission decisions differed by gender.<br /><br />The results showed that after the discriminatory practices were revealed in 2019, two universities—Tokyo Medical University (TMU) and Showa Medical University School of Medicine (SMUSM)—experienced a sharp drop in applicants, especially among women. In the pre-disclosure period, there were statistically significant differences in pass rates between men and women at three universities, with men more likely to be admitted. After disclosure, this pattern changed: at SMUSM, women were more likely to be admitted, and across the three universities there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-disclosure periods, indicating that men were no longer favored in admissions.<br /><br />The study concludes that four universities had manipulated scores to disadvantage female applicants before the disclosure of unauthorized admissions, but that the situation improved afterward. Overall, the findings provide evidence of gender discrimination in medical school admissions in Japan and show that transparency and public exposure may have helped reduce bias.

Asset Subtitle

Kotoko Mizuno

Meta Tag

Author List Kotoko Mizuno, Takashi Watari, Yasuhisa Nakano

Category Research

Concept Gender Discrimination

Concept Female Applicants

Concept Japanese Medical School Admissions

Concept Unauthorized Admissions

Concept Gender Bias

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Shimane University

Presenting Author Kotoko Mizuno

Track Education

Keywords

gender bias

Japanese medical school admissions

discrimination

female applicants

male applicants

odds ratios

medical schools

admission bias

transparency

public disclosure

Gender Discrimination

Female Applicants

Japanese Medical School Admissions

Unauthorized Admissions

Gender Bias