Harvard economist explains why women are drawn to veterinary medicine
Factors of flexibility are among the most important considerations for women selecting careers.
That women have taken the field of veterinary medicine by storm is no secret to those in the profession. But that fact has now caught the attention of an Ivy League economist. As reported recently in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard's Claudia Goldin, Ph.D., speaking to the American Economic Association, offered some perspective on the trend.
Noting that women now account for 77% of graduating veterinarians, Goldin points out that the requirements and rigors of the profession itself haven't changed; instead the very nature of practice life has taken on new, appealing characteristics. Many clinics have begun keeping "family conducive" business hours-limited evening or emergency hours. The opportunity to have a prestigious and influential career in medicine while maintaining a flexible schedule is proving to be of major importance to women choosing careers. Goldin says that the idea of women having careers while raising families is a comparatively new one: Little more than a generation ago, they would have had to choose between the two, whereas now, in realms such as veterinary medicine, the two may coexist.
As those considering a future in health-related fields learn more about the industry, a career in veterinary medicine will surely only become more attractive.
