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'It hurts even when it's not about us.' Reframing microaggressions in medical education in Japan: Qualitative research.

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Title: 'It hurts even when it's not about us.' Reframing microaggressions in medical education in Japan: Qualitative research.
Authors: Mizumoto, Junki1,2 (AUTHOR) jnk_mizu@keio.jp, Fujikawa, Hirohisa3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Medical Teacher. May2026, Vol. 48 Issue 5, p803-811. 9p.
Subject Terms: *Cultural awareness, *Medical education, *Qualitative research, *Psychological adaptation, *Experience, *Students, *Organizational structure, *Medical schools, *Research methodology, *Teacher development, *Psychology of medical students, *Discrimination (Sociology), *Interpersonal relations, Dehumanization, Sexism, Institutional racism, Research funding, Self-efficacy, Interviewing, Leadership, Sex discrimination, Sound recordings, Thematic analysis, Microaggressions, Psychosocial factors
Geographic Terms: Japan
Abstract: Introduction: Microaggressions are common in medical education but have been studied mainly in Western contexts. This study explored medical students' experiences of microaggressions in Japan to contextualize them within broader sociocultural structures. Methods: Participants were recruited through the Japan Association for Medical Student Societies (Igakuren), the sole nationwide representative body. Eligible individuals were current executive committee members or physicians within six years of graduation who had previously served. Data gained from in-depth online interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants reported diverse microaggressions during clinical training. To capture these, the conventional microaggression triangle (source, recipient, bystander) was expanded with a fourth element: topic. Three themes emerged: (i) microaggressions about marginalized patients, (ii) hierarchy and dehumanization of students, and (iii) managing microaggressions. These findings highlight how hierarchical norms and structural inequities perpetuate microaggressions in medical education in Japan. Discussion: Microaggressions in Japan reflect structural inequities and entrenched hierarchies, including gender-based discrimination, rather than isolated interpersonal slights. Addressing them requires empowering students, preparing faculty for constructive intervention, and reforming hierarchical norms. This study provides a culturally grounded perspective to advance global discussions on equity in health professions education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Medical Teacher is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: 'It hurts even when it's not about us.' Reframing microaggressions in medical education in Japan: Qualitative research.
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  Data: Introduction: Microaggressions are common in medical education but have been studied mainly in Western contexts. This study explored medical students' experiences of microaggressions in Japan to contextualize them within broader sociocultural structures. Methods: Participants were recruited through the Japan Association for Medical Student Societies (Igakuren), the sole nationwide representative body. Eligible individuals were current executive committee members or physicians within six years of graduation who had previously served. Data gained from in-depth online interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants reported diverse microaggressions during clinical training. To capture these, the conventional microaggression triangle (source, recipient, bystander) was expanded with a fourth element: topic. Three themes emerged: (i) microaggressions about marginalized patients, (ii) hierarchy and dehumanization of students, and (iii) managing microaggressions. These findings highlight how hierarchical norms and structural inequities perpetuate microaggressions in medical education in Japan. Discussion: Microaggressions in Japan reflect structural inequities and entrenched hierarchies, including gender-based discrimination, rather than isolated interpersonal slights. Addressing them requires empowering students, preparing faculty for constructive intervention, and reforming hierarchical norms. This study provides a culturally grounded perspective to advance global discussions on equity in health professions education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Medical Teacher is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0142159X.2025.2561209
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 803
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cultural awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organizational structure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of medical students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discrimination (Sociology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dehumanization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Institutional racism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Self-efficacy
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex discrimination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microaggressions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Japan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'It hurts even when it's not about us.' Reframing microaggressions in medical education in Japan: Qualitative research.
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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