Gender Characteristics of Dental Specializations and Activities
Research Article
How to Cite
Margaryan E.G., Atanesyan A.V. Gender Characteristics of Dental Specializations and Activities. Humanities of the South of Russia. 2022. Vol. 11. No. 1. P. 59-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2022.1.4 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to reveal the dentists’ perceptions of a particular specialization as "men’s," "women’s", or "universal" job. Among objectives of the study is to examine those factors (including gender perceptions of a physician) which influenced the choice of a profession/specialization. The authors tried to identify those professional and personal qualities which, according to the physicians, are necessary for a dentist and are more typical for male or female doctors. We also tried to understand whether physicians prefer to work with an administrator to be a woman or a man. We examined the significance of a dentist’s sex to be preferable for the patients, as well as for dentists themselves while choosing a doctor.
The methodological basis of the research includes theoretical background developed in terms of gender studies in sociology of healthcare and medicine, as well as comparative statistical data analysis. The study was conducted through a sociological survey with practicing dentists in Moscow, Russia, using the Survey Monkey platform.
Research results. Among the dental specializations (therapy, surgery, orthopedics, orthodontics, dental laboratory technology), the respondents perceive the profession of a dental surgeon and a dental laboratory technician as mainly “men’s jobs”, while orthodontics is rather a “female/universal” job. Physicians of both sexes emphasize professional knowledge, attention to the details, and patience as the most important qualities for a dentist. Female dentists underline the importance of empathy, while physical strength is not considered a critical quality to be effective by dentists of both sexes. More than half of the dentists surveyed do not have any gender preferences regarding the sex of their administrator; those who have gender preferences would better work under the leadership of a man.
Prospects for the study. The findings help in better understanding of human/gender side of dentistry, and in formulating and applying social as well communicative policies in healthcare.
Keywords:
dentistry, physicians, gender perceptions, preferences, specialization, sociology of healthcare and medicine
References
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Makeeva, I. M., Svistunova, E. G., Margaryan, E. G., Procenko, A. S. (2017). Gender-related differences in working practice and professional growth of dentists. Stomatologiya, 96(3), 49-51. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.17116/stomat201796349-51. (In Russian).
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Alzahrani, Sh., Aboalshamat, K., Bedaiwi, S., Alnefaie, S., Almutairi, T., Asiri, S., Alnuwaymi, I. (2020). Patients’ Preferences for Dentist’s Nationality and Gender among Residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Open Dentistry Journal, 14, 137-142. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.2174/1874210602014010137.
Ayers, K. M. S., Murray Thomson, W., Rich, A. M., Newton, J. T. (2008). Gender differences in dentists’ working practices and job satisfaction. Journal of Dentistry, 36, 343-350.
Boniol, M., McIsaac, M., Xu, L., Wuliji, T., Diallo, K., Campbell, J. (2019). Gender equity in the health workforce: analysis of 104 countries. Working Paper 1. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https:// apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/handle/10665/311314/WHO-HIS-HWF-Gender-WP1-2019.1-eng.pdf.
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Margaryan, E. G, Daurova, F. Yu., Atanesyan, A. V. (2021). The Impact of Professional Activities on Personal Life and Health of Dentists. New Armenian Medical Journal, 15, 1, 67-71.
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Pallavi, S. K., Rajkumar, G. C. (2011). Professional practice among woman dentist. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 1(1), 14-19. DOI: https:// dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2231-0762.86376.
Shannon, G., Jansen, M., Williams, K., Cáceres, C., Motta, A., Odhiambo, A., Eleveld, A., Mannell, J. (2019). Gender equality in science, medicine, and global health: where are we at and why does it matter? Lancet, 393, 560-569. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/action/ showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2818%2933135-0.
Tiwari, T., Randall, C. L., Cohen, L., Holtzmann, J., Webster-Cyriaque, J., Ajiboye, S., Schou, L., Wandera, M., Ikeda, K., Fidela de Lima Navarro, M., Feres, M., Abdellatif, H., Al-Madi, E., Tubert-Jeannin, S., Fox, C.H., Ioannidou, E., D’Souza, R. N. (2019). Gender Inequalities in the Dental Workforce: Global Perspectives. Advances in Dental Research, 30(3), 60-68, DOI: 10.1177/0022034519877398.
Wright, E.R., Perry, B.L. (2010). Medical Sociology and Health Services Research. Past Accomplishments and Future Policy Challenge. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51, 107-119. DOI: 10.1177/0022146510383504.
Zillén, P. Å., Mindak, M. (2000). World Dental Demographics. International Dental Journal, 50(4), 194-197. DOI: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2000.tb00558.x.
Kurbatov, A. V., Amlaev, K. R., Murav`ev, K. A. (2011). The contemporary condition of the health inequality problem: ecological, gender, economic aspects (review). Nauka. Innovaczii. Tekhnologii, 74, 24-30. (In Russian).
Makeeva, I. M., Svistunova, E. G., Margaryan, E. G., Procenko, A. S. (2017). Gender-related differences in working practice and professional growth of dentists. Stomatologiya, 96(3), 49-51. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.17116/stomat201796349-51. (In Russian).
Sud’in, S.A. (2012). Gender aspects in the sociology of medicine and health. Zhenshchina v rossijskom obshchestve, 4, 24-31. (In Russian).
Alzahrani, Sh., Aboalshamat, K., Bedaiwi, S., Alnefaie, S., Almutairi, T., Asiri, S., Alnuwaymi, I. (2020). Patients’ Preferences for Dentist’s Nationality and Gender among Residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Open Dentistry Journal, 14, 137-142. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.2174/1874210602014010137.
Ayers, K. M. S., Murray Thomson, W., Rich, A. M., Newton, J. T. (2008). Gender differences in dentists’ working practices and job satisfaction. Journal of Dentistry, 36, 343-350.
Boniol, M., McIsaac, M., Xu, L., Wuliji, T., Diallo, K., Campbell, J. (2019). Gender equity in the health workforce: analysis of 104 countries. Working Paper 1. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https:// apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/handle/10665/311314/WHO-HIS-HWF-Gender-WP1-2019.1-eng.pdf.
Gender and health workforce statistics (2008). Department of Human Resources for Health. World Health Organization, 2. Available at: https://www.who.int/ hrh/statistics/ spotlight_2.pdf.
Ibrahim, H. M., Awooda, E. M. (2015). Comparison of patients’ perception of dental care offered by male or female dentist: Cross-sectional hospital based study. European Journal of General Dentistry, 4, 117-120.
Margaryan, E. G, Daurova, F. Yu., Atanesyan, A. V. (2021). The Impact of Professional Activities on Personal Life and Health of Dentists. New Armenian Medical Journal, 15, 1, 67-71.
Mechanic, D. (2001). Medical Sociology. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. In N. J. Smelser, P. B. Baltes (Eds.). Pergamon, 9530-9534. Available at: https:// doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/01893-3.
Mechanic, D. (1990). The Role of Sociology in Health Affairs. Health Affairs, 9(1), 85-97, DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.9.1.85
Pallavi, S. K., Rajkumar, G. C. (2011). Professional practice among woman dentist. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 1(1), 14-19. DOI: https:// dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2231-0762.86376.
Shannon, G., Jansen, M., Williams, K., Cáceres, C., Motta, A., Odhiambo, A., Eleveld, A., Mannell, J. (2019). Gender equality in science, medicine, and global health: where are we at and why does it matter? Lancet, 393, 560-569. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/action/ showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2818%2933135-0.
Tiwari, T., Randall, C. L., Cohen, L., Holtzmann, J., Webster-Cyriaque, J., Ajiboye, S., Schou, L., Wandera, M., Ikeda, K., Fidela de Lima Navarro, M., Feres, M., Abdellatif, H., Al-Madi, E., Tubert-Jeannin, S., Fox, C.H., Ioannidou, E., D’Souza, R. N. (2019). Gender Inequalities in the Dental Workforce: Global Perspectives. Advances in Dental Research, 30(3), 60-68, DOI: 10.1177/0022034519877398.
Wright, E.R., Perry, B.L. (2010). Medical Sociology and Health Services Research. Past Accomplishments and Future Policy Challenge. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51, 107-119. DOI: 10.1177/0022146510383504.
Zillén, P. Å., Mindak, M. (2000). World Dental Demographics. International Dental Journal, 50(4), 194-197. DOI: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2000.tb00558.x.
Article
Received: 02.12.2021
Accepted: 29.03.2022
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Margaryan, E. G., & Atanesyan, A. V. (2022). Gender Characteristics of Dental Specializations and Activities. Humanities of the South of Russia, 11(1), 59-72. https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2022.1.4
Section
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN MODERN SOCIETY
