COMBINING GENDER, CLASS, AND RACE - STRUCTURING RELATIONS IN THE ONTARIO DENTAL PROFESSION

This study examines the relationship between gender class, and rare th rough a case study of the Ontario, Canada dental profession in the fir st two decades of the twentieth century. During this time period denti sts endeavored to solidify their claims to professional status by defi ning their relations with patients, the public, and with dental assist ants. Dentists drew on gender class, and racial-ethnic relations and i deology in defining these relations and fostering their professional i dentity. Dentists' use of these relations enabled them to define and d efend their claims to professional authority in the area of dental hea lth.