Terhi Karaharju-Suvanto1,2, Marta Choroszewicz3, Ritva Näpänkangas4,5, Anna Liisa Suominen6,7, Mimmi Tolvanen8, Jaakko Koivumäki9. 1. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 4. Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 5. Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 6. Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 7. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. 8. Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 9. Finnish Dental Association, Finland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: For over the last 20 years, approximately 70% of working dentists in Finland have been women. However, there is internal division of the profession along gender lines. Female dentists work more often in the public sector and male dentists in the private sector. The aim of this study was to investigate the gender differences in young dentists' early career choices, specialization plans, values and perceptions of professional identity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were taken from a national e-mail questionnaire study called "Young Dentist," which was sent to 458 dentists who had received their licence to practise dentistry in 2014-2016 from all four universities with dental curricula in Finland. A total of 52% young dentists (n = 238) answered the questionnaire. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results indicated that whereas female dentists were more likely to perceive themselves as comforters, social workers and health promoters, male dentists tended to perceive themselves as technicians. These professional identities were interrelated with early-stage career choices in which female dentists worked more often in the public than in the private sector when compared to male dentists. There were also clear gender differences in the importance of values and the specialization plans of the young dentists. CONCLUSION: Young dentists in Finland make career choices and develop professional identity in accordance with the attributes traditionally associated with cultural ideals related to femininity and masculinity.
INTRODUCTION: For over the last 20 years, approximately 70% of working dentists in Finland have been women. However, there is internal division of the profession along gender lines. Female dentists work more often in the public sector and male dentists in the private sector. The aim of this study was to investigate the gender differences in young dentists' early career choices, specialization plans, values and perceptions of professional identity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were taken from a national e-mail questionnaire study called "Young Dentist," which was sent to 458 dentists who had received their licence to practise dentistry in 2014-2016 from all four universities with dental curricula in Finland. A total of 52% young dentists (n = 238) answered the questionnaire. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results indicated that whereas female dentists were more likely to perceive themselves as comforters, social workers and health promoters, male dentists tended to perceive themselves as technicians. These professional identities were interrelated with early-stage career choices in which female dentists worked more often in the public than in the private sector when compared to male dentists. There were also clear gender differences in the importance of values and the specialization plans of the young dentists. CONCLUSION: Young dentists in Finland make career choices and develop professional identity in accordance with the attributes traditionally associated with cultural ideals related to femininity and masculinity.
Authors: Beniamino Cislaghi; Amiya Bhatia; Emma Sofia Thonander Hallgren; Nour Horanieh; Ann M Weber; Gary L Darmstadt Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-05-31
Authors: Pentti Nieminen; Eswara Uma; Shani Ann Mani; Jacob John; Marja-Liisa Laitala; Olli-Pekka Lappalainen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 3.390