A Stark Reminder of Gender Bias in 2024!
A government investigation has uncovered that at least nine Japanese medical schools manipulated admissions to exclude female students. The inquiry began after Tokyo Medical University (TMU) was exposed for tampering with women’s exam scores in 2006. The justification? Concerns that female graduates wouldn’t pursue careers in medicine.
This scandal is a major setback for Japan’s efforts to increase women’s participation in the workforce, particularly in leadership roles.
Following national outrage, the education ministry reviewed 81 medical schools, identifying 10 with “inappropriate entrance exams.” Nine, including TMU, Kitasato University, and Juntendo University, were found guilty of gender bias. The investigation also revealed favoritism for alumni children and discrimination against students retaking the entrance exam.
Officials at TMU reportedly maintained a “silent understanding” to reduce female entrants due to fears that they wouldn’t continue practicing medicine. This deeply entrenched sexism in medical education raises urgent questions about fairness and gender equality in Japan’s workforce.
