Working women dentists are becoming the prey of cultural stigma. Is society accepting working women wholeheartedly?
Working women have a positive role.
Today, women have achieved unbelievable goals in our moderate societies. They are paving the way for other suppressed and culturally bounded women to follow. Many people presume the purpose for women to fight for their rights is to become financially independent; however, this is not true. Research has provided evidence that women working in society relate to high employee engagement and work performances. Hence, females stepping out to work contributes positively to society’s development.
Statistics of working women dentists in Pakistan
According to trading economics, the total female force in Pakistan was 20.53 % in 2020. According to PMC (Pakistan Medical Commission), out of the 17125 registered dentists. Out of these, 11039 are females, and only 6086 are males. However, only 5% of these registered female dentists pursue their careers and work as specialists or dentists.
Hurdles for working women
Fields such as dentistry are one of the perfect career options for females. It has great opportunities for growth, flexible timings and a good work-life balance. However, multiple factors contribute to the restrained development of females in terms of educational accomplishments and career development. This includes family pressure, early marriage, children and cultural taboos. Cultural stigma is one of the basic hindrances for a women’s success, despite the modern outlook. The discrimination begins at the level of education, which carries on up to the professional period. These cultural beliefs, norms and practices cause under-representation in their profession and create hurdles in attempting special and difficult cases.
Need to increase women empowerment
Moreover, the concept of women being a triggering factor for sexual harassment in society is incorrect. Working women should not face stalking, passing remarks and pressurization. Henceforth, doctors and scholars should effectively use digital media to promote outstanding female professionals and set examples for society. Therefore, they should arrange educational seminars to create awareness among the youth for problems in society concerning gender inequality. Furthermore, authorities should give special emphasis on designing proper protocols to enforce such rules and regulations. This will create a safe, comfortable and friendly environment for both genders at work.
