Intersectionality in Medical Education: A Meta-Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Social Sciences
• Health Equity

Background:

• Academic medicine increasingly focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
• A theoretical framework to guide equity advancements is often lacking.
• Intersectionality, a framework analyzing dynamic social categories and power structures, has potential but limited application in medical education literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the conceptualization and application of intersectionality within medical education.
• To synthesize existing literature on intersectionality theory in the context of medical education.

Main Methods:

• A meta-narrative review was conducted.
• Literature search across three electronic databases.
• Analysis of 14 selected articles on intersectionality in medical education.

Main Results:

• Existing literature highlights identity categorization and the link between identity, power, and social change.
• Contrasting narratives exist regarding the practical application of intersectionality in medical education.
• Tensions arise between theoretical understanding and practical implementation of intersectionality.

Conclusions:

• A limited body of literature risks a superficial understanding of intersectionality in medical education.
• Intersectionality should not be equated solely with diversity.
• Emphasizing reflexivity, transformational identity, and power analysis is crucial for accurate application.