Advancing women, parity, and gender equity

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Historical underrepresentation of women in dentistry.
• Persistent gender disparities in academic and leadership roles.
• Societal calls for equity and transformation in professional fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current state of gender equity in U.S. dental schools.
• To identify key areas requiring intervention for advancing women in dentistry.
• To propose strategies for achieving parity and promoting leadership opportunities for women.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of faculty demographics and compensation data in U.S. dental schools (2018-2019).
• Review of existing literature on gender equity in academia and professional fields.
• Identification of critical areas impacting women's career progression.

Main Results:

• Men held 59.5% of full-time faculty positions in U.S. dental schools.
• Male faculty members received higher compensation than their female counterparts.
• Female deans earned 7% less in total compensation compared to male deans.

Conclusions:

• Significant gender disparities in pay and academic pathways persist in dental academia.
• Proactive strategies and institutional investment are crucial for advancing women's careers.
• Creating nurturing environments is essential to promote women's leadership skills and professional performance.