Acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition by gender identity and sexual orientation: a survey of nursing students.

Objective: Amid growing calls for respect for gender diversity, Japanese law restricts midwifery qualifications to women, excluding individuals assigned male at birth. By contrast, in some countries, all individuals can pursue midwifery qualifications regardless of gender. These differences highlight varying institutional frameworks and levels of social acceptance. To clarify nursing students' acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition across gender identities and sexual orientations. Methods: tests. Results: Heterosexual women had the highest level of acceptance (96.9% positive evaluations), while heterosexual and bisexual men had the lowest (46.9%). There were substantial gender differences in the level of acceptance for different sexual orientations; however, none were statistically significant. Conclusion: Acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition varied by gender identity and sexual orientation categories, suggesting that gender roles and cultural perspectives may influence attitudes. The findings indicate that systems should be reviewed to allow anyone, regardless of gender, to qualify and work as a midwife. They also highlight the importance of fostering an understanding of diversity through education.