Medical students' narratives of peer bullying in women

Abstract

This study uncovered complicated social dynamics of women students in an accelerated, combined degree program, specifically the narratives of students who experienced peer bullying. Individual and collective narratives were developed using narrative inquiry and through a feminist lens, this study reviews Queen Bee Syndrome and its parallel constructs in a medical education setting. Study participants revealed varying degrees of bullying. Findings include risks and rewards of friendships in women, unveiling frequent gossip and commitment to or ostracizing from social groups. Further, this study revealed participants had tendencies to acquiesce to or become autonomous to bullying behaviors. Several factors, including mental health, academic failure, competition, and sexism, influenced bullying experiences among students. Finally, participants described a social world where being one's best self was particularly important to their social standing. Implications for research, policy, and practice include additional work on mental health and student success, student wellness, proactive interventions, and additional research on men students.