Consequences of feminization of a profession: the case of Canadian pharmacy.

Although the influx of women into formerly entirely male-dominated professions has attracted much commentary from members of these professions, little investigation of the consequences of rapid, large-scale feminization has been undertaken for particular professions. The results of a pilot study in Canadian pharmacy suggest that fears of shortages due to women working part-time while they raise their children, are unfounded. However, our survey results suggest that women are differentially drawn into pharmacies run by corporations rather than independent businesses. This may allow them to reorient pharmacy away from its business base and towards its chosen new professional jurisdiction of counselling. On the other hand, the demise of independent pharmacy, that traditionally attracted males, may bring with it less control by pharmacists over what they do in everyday practice. The possibility that similar processes are operating in other feminizing professions with entrepreneurial components, such as dentistry and optometry, should be investigated.