Abstract Manager

Education Research

From March 31 to May 8, 2017, we conducted an online survey of all University of Toronto residents and received a 53% response rate (n=1080).The sample data were weighted by gender to match the known resident population gender ratio.

We conducted univariate and nested bivariate analysis. Only a slightly larger proportion of Muslim residents than the resident population as a whole said they had experienced discrimination during the past academic year (41% vs. 33%); however, 60% of Muslim residents whose religion is 'easily identifiable' by their appearance had experienced discrimination during the past academic year. The data show surprising patterns in the perpetration of discrimination and harassment. Twice as many Muslim residents (32%) than Christian (15%) or Jewish (17%) residents experienced discrimination/harassment from faculty. Further, Muslim residents whose religion is identifiable were twice as likely as other Muslim residents to have experienced discrimination and harassment by U of T faculty members (44% vs. 20%). Only 6% of residents who experienced discrimination/harassment reported all incidents.

The survey findings indicate strongly that identifiably Muslim residents are targeted for discrimination, including by faculty, residents and other healthcare workers. The data offer direction for responding to discrimination and harassment with targeted programming for faculty.