A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF VETERINARY STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES .4. GENDER ISSUES

Objective To study differences in experiences, attitudes and opinions between female and male veterinary students and recent graduates. Desi gn Longitudinal study. Population Students - 77 males and 77 females - who began studying veterinary science at The University of Queensland in 1985 and 1986. Procedure Questionnaires were completed in the firs t and fifth year of the course, and in the second year after graduatio n. The data were analysed using the SAS System for Windows. Results Fe males decided to study veterinary science at a younger age than males and were more influenced by 'a love of animals', the image of veterina rians as portrayed on television, an interest in living things and in the scientific study of disease. Males were more influenced than femal es in aspects of the workplace: bosses and money. There were no gender differences in their background in relation to farms, or to animals, or in their career plans. However females when in first year expected a lower initial income than males; an expectation that was realised in the first year after graduation. As first year students and also as v eterinarians, females had stronger views than males on animal welfare issues, and also felt that the veterinary profession had a lower statu s relative to other professions. Conclusions Significant differences i n attitudes and experiences exist between males and females entering t he veterinary profession. The situation of females in relation to inco me and status is consistent with that in other professions, where fema les have been disadvantaged compared with males.