The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion. It’s a good time to look at the important role women play in dentistry.
Opportunities for women in dentistry
Throughout the last century, most dentists were men. Indeed, if we look at the percentage of male to female dentists over 55, it’s still predominantly male. But with an increasing number of women training in dentistry, the balance is changing. Women in the dental sector have chosen to challenge traditional roles, and the gender balance has changed.
Key issues facing women in dentistry today
Information from the BDA
Female role models in the profession encourage greater participation for women developing their career.
Dentistry is a fantastic career for women and can offer flexible working, to allow for a good work-life balance.
Barriers still exist, especially in terms of women progressing into more senior roles.
Over 50% of UK dentists are women
Statistics from the GDR report
Dentistry has come a long way over the last century. Treatments are now so much more sophisticated, with the emphasis on care and aesthetics, rather than pain management and tooth pulling. And there is a change in the role of women too.
A quick look at SpaDental’s team pages shows that women fill many roles. We have women in practice administration, nursing, hygiene and therapy, and a good balance of women dentists. Women are behind the scenes too, working in finance, compliance and management.
Between 2007 and 2015, the number of women registered as dentists increased by 44.2%. If we look at the range of dentists over 55, about 75% of them are male. The percentage of women dentists is higher in the younger age brackets as an increasing number of women qualify.
Dentistry is one of the work environments where the changing role of women is visible. Dental businesses are responding to the work requirements of women too, with flexible working hours and opening times.
- The BDA (British Dental Association) shares further information on the role of women in dental care.
How can each of us promote “Inspire Inclusion”?
Equal education and employment opportunities, pay equality and the fair sharing of domestic work in the home are important topics to address in our day to day lives.
In many societies the emphasis on how we talk to children and young people about gender roles, an individual’s contribution to a group, whether familial or societal, helps create changing expectations.
Our aim: to reduce gender bias and discrimination of all types, and promote the reality of equal opportunity.
We are all educators and we can each make a difference by promoting equality and challenging stereo-types.
On the topic: