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Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

Sexism Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: Life as a Female Vet

Picture this. Your prize horse needs a vaccination. Who should turn up to deliver this but a veterinary graduate of ten years, specialist in equine internal medicine and teacher to veterinary undergraduates. Today is your lucky day! Or not.

By Williams, A. on July 05, 2024

“I specifically requested one of the male vets, but it is just a vaccination so I do hope you’ll be able to do that …”

Emma Watson’s recent UN speech got me thinking about when I’ve experienced sexism during my professional life. I am a lecturer in equine medicine at the University of Surrey. In the UK about 85% of vet graduates are female and Emma’s speech hit on a truth that is perfectly illustrated in my experiences as a female veterinarian.

Shouldn’t happen to a vet

The above example is one of many. I turned up at a yard one morning to vaccinate horses. A middle-aged woman greeted me with the above statement, and at the time I smiled politely and quietly got on with my job while secretly thinking: “I’m more qualified and have dealt with a far higher and more complicated caseload than any of the male vets at the practice. I am more than capable of giving injections and filling in vaccination forms.”

Read the full article here.