The hidden curriculum, an instrument for perpetuating gender inequalities in medical education

Authors

Keywords: hidden curriculum, bioethics, gender, inequalities

Abstract

Dear Editor, we have read with great interest the work published by Osornio et al. (1) in the recent issue of your journal. This work provides a solid methodological and conceptually rigorous approach to a phenomenon that, although widely recognized by medical schools worldwide, continues to be insufficiently problematized in its structural dimension. Nevertheless, we believe that this letter can enrich the discussion by deepening the conceptual and epistemological perspective on bioethics and gender-based inequalities as critical categories in the study of the hidden curriculum.

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References

1. Osornio Castillo L, Peralta Cortes EN, Méndez Cruz AR. Aprender entre sombras: experiencias del currículum oculto y las desigualdades de género en la formación médica. Revista Española de Educación Médica. 2026, 1, 691371. https://doi.org/10.6018/edumed.691371

2. Hafferty FW, Gaufberg EH, O’donnell JF. The Role of the Hidden Curriculum in «On Doctoring» Courses. AMA J Ethics. 2015, 17(2), 129-137. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2015.17.2.medu1-1502

3. Culcay Delgado J, García Coello AD. Bioethics in medical education: Exploring the hidden curriculum, Systematic Review. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología. 2025, 5, 1270. https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20251270

4. Burke E, Heron EA, Hennessy M. Gender bias in academic medicine: a resumé study. BMC Med Educ 2023, 23(1), 291. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04192-6

5. Li GJ, Sherwood M, Bezjak A, Tsao M. Assessing the hidden curriculum in medical education: a scoping review and residency program’s reflection. Can Med Educ J. 2024, 15(5), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.78841

6. Culcay Delgado JI. Bioethics as a cornerstone: assessing and modifying the hidden curriculum in medical education. Can Med Educ J. 2025, 16(5), 105.

7. Borroto Cruz, R. Bioética e investigación: Puente hasta el presente y para el futuro. Revista San Gregorio, 2015, 6-15. https://revista.sangregorio.edu.ec/index.php/REVISTASANGREGORIO/article/view/131

Published
02-03-2026
How to Cite
Culcay Delgado, J. I., & Arteaga Quiroz, M. Ángel. (2026). The hidden curriculum, an instrument for perpetuating gender inequalities in medical education. Spanish Journal of Medical Education, 7(2). Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/edumed/article/view/703991
Issue
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): Spanish Journal of Medical Education
Section
Letters to Director

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