CHALLENGES IN MANAGING DIVERSE GENDER ROLES AMONG ROMANIAN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

This original research examines the perceptions and attitudes of Romanian medical professionals towards gender nonconformity, focusing on stereotypes and their implications for healthcare delivery.The aim is to identify cultural and psychological barriers that influence healthcare delivery to gender diverse individuals and to propose educational strategies for improving inclusivity and non -discrimination.Materials and methods: Through a qualitative, phenomenological approach, the research explores stereotypes and conformity to assigned gender roles among a sample of medical students that were evaluated through interviews focusing on personal and professional views shaped by cultural, familial and societal influences.The study combined systematic literature reviews from international databases with a transversal study involving 50 medical students aged 20 -52 years.Participants' views on traditional axioms and other popular gender stereotypes were critically evaluated to identify variations across age, gender, marital status and cultural background.Results: Results showed that gender role conformity is prevalent, particularly among married and religious participants, underscoring the influence of traditio nal patriarchal norms on societal integration.The findings emphasize the need for specialized educ ation to foster acceptance and tolerance toward gender diversity.Addressing cultural stere otypes and providing adequate training are critical for developing ethical medical practices that ensure equitable care for all patients.The findings highlight the urgent need for specia lized education to dismantle stereotypes, improve professional competence and foster ethical medical practices.Conclusions: This research concludes that recognizing and addressing gender role biases is pivotal in reducing stigma and ensuring equitable care for nonconfor ming individuals within the Romanian healthcare system.