Effect of gender role identity on choice of dental hygiene and professionalism

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of gender role identity on major choice, and preference and choice of job for applicants of dental hygiene department. Methods: The subjects were 202 high school girl students visiting K university in October, 2014 and in January, 2015 for the interview of early and regular admission to the university. The questionnaire consisted of 3 questions of general characteristics of the subjects, 40 questions of gender role identity, and 6 questions of career choice factors. Gender role identity included 15 questions of masculinity, 15 questions of feminity, and 10 questions of neutral gender using instrument of Kim by Likert scale. Cronbach's alpha of masculinity, feminity, and neutral gender was 0.810, 0.762, and 0.801 respectively. The data were analyzed using χ 2 -test with SPSS Win 12.0. Results: The effects of gender role identity on major choice and professionalism were as follows. In major choice motivation, psychological type, feminity type and masculinity types selected aptitude, professional sustainability and recommendation by acquaintance in order, but undifferentiated type selected aptitude, recommendation by acquaintance and professional sustainability in order. There was a statistically significant difference(p<0.05). In major choice information, psychological, feminity and undifferentiated types prefer indirect experience but masculinity type prefers direct experience. There was a statistically significant difference(p<0.05) In job selection, psychological, feminity and undifferentiated types want to do assistant works rather than oral health prevention and education. Masculinity type want to do oral health prevention and education rather than assistant work. There was a statistically significant difference(p<0.001). Conclusions:The gender role identity affected the factors related to choice of major and job in dental hygiene major applicants. It is necessary to provide the career choice program for the high school students by personality types and gender role identity types.Key Words: gender role identity, choice of major, dental hygiene 색인: 성역할정체감, 전공선택

Androgyny in dentists: The contribution of masculinity and femininity to mental health and well-being

“…) or male (determination, ability to work in a highly competitive environment and quickly master new professional technologies, etc). It is not surprising that gender identity plays a very important role in a dentist's prospective professional activity, determining the choice of not only a profession, but also a certain dental specialty, where the main role is played by the type of an applicant's gender identity along with their personality traits (Kim, Kim, & Moon, 2015).…”