Thread by @TheWholeT00th

Lots of chatter about #sexism in #dentistry on here at the moment.

Here’s an unsolicited thread about my thoughts as a (white, de facto middle class) unashamedly liberal male.

🧵

It’s become quite clear that there’s an undercurrent (sometimes blatant) of sexism through dentistry, and affiliated professions. For dentists that’s clearly coming from a group of (mainly older) men…

Arguments against this mainly seem to to focus on the idea that the lived experiences of women who have experienced sexism don’t count because it’s not science. Beware of discounting lived experiences. It might be your lived experiences that are ignored next.

And just because YOU PERSONALLY haven’t experienced sexism (or racism/other forms of discrimination) doesn’t mean that it’s not an issue for many. The issues raised should be heard, investigated and acted upon.

The idea of balancing the @dental_boards is important. A more diverse board (gender/cultural) will be able to recognise and act upon more issues. HOWEVER…

It’s important to realise that ‘women’ (just as ‘men’ or ‘whites’ or ‘BAME’ or ‘LGBT’) are not a homologous group, but consist of individuals. Don’t assume that because one person wants X, then everyone else will. It’s ok to be different. (Or the same)

Those claiming that we should take a lassez-faire approach to composition of boards because meritocracy should read this by @rogerkline: blogs.bmj.com/bmjleader/2020…
True meritocracy doesn’t exist.

Don’t write off positive discrimination. As a white man, I’m ALREADY discriminated for. Why shouldn’t someone who doesn’t have those attributes get the same (real) chance as I do?

And finally, for now, in the words of @anonymous_cynic, we may have the same finishing line, but the start line is often very different.

Oh, a bit extra. Some reading recommendations:
First, Invisible Women by @CCriadoPerez. An in depth look at a world designed by and for men.

Men who hate women - by @EverydaySexism’s Laura Bates. A (bleak and often disturbing) look at the world of incels/MGTOWs/PUAs etc. You’ll see some of the language used here in many of the arguments against the presence of sexism in dentistry.

And, of course, How to be a Liberal, by @IanDunt. A detailed history of liberal thinking and the importance of the individual.

Very finally… yes, it works both ways. We should be asking why men aren’t encouraged into dental nursing/hygiene therapy as well. Possibly because ‘dentistry’ is traditionally considered to be the proper (i.e male) job and nursing etc. to be lesser?

And that’s pretty much going to be my next BDJ column.

Oh, a few more things… whatever you thoughts on intersectionality are it’s undeniable that (for example) white women experience life differently from white men, who experience it differently than (for example) an Indian man…

That difference is important, and understanding how we experience life differently is key to understanding our position in society and improving life for everyone. And it’s *interesting*. So talk to each other about your life experience.

If someone’s dismissing your experience because theirs is different, take a second to consider what’s made them that way.