Both men and women healthcare professionals owe a sense of responsibility, maintenance of quality work, efficiency in the treatment and commitment towards their patients and society as whole. In Indian scenario, women are always expected to multitask particularly to manage equilibrium between family and workplace responsibilities.
Women constitute more than 50% of the total students taking admissions in dentistry. However social, biological and cultural obstacles cut down their representation at higher academic and leadership positions. The specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery requires full time commitment and social compromise so that one may not have the time or resources to lead a balanced life; and hence has always been a male dominated territory. The female representation in this specialty is still lagging way behind possibly due to the conceived speculation that it requires good physical strength. However, it is well perceived now that it is all about the technique and surgical skills and number of female maxillofacial surgeons is starting to rise. Also, there is a scarcity of female role models and mentors. Females have always been a support system but their consideration to be on the fore front is still in a minimal proportion.
Gender diversity will not only ensure a large and rich talent pool but will also furnish high quality care and innovations remitting the needs of both genders equally. Increment in women leadership will subsequently diversify skill sets, view-points in decision-making, critical analytical thinking and innovation thereby resulting in greater competitiveness and economic success.
The Gender-diverse teams (men and women from all backgrounds, races, and ethnicities) tend to perform better, making gender diversity critical and crucial for current and future success of OMFS. It is therefore prime requisite to ensure that men and women have equal opportunity in education, training and employment in scientific and technological fields.
Government's policies from “Beti bachao beti padhao” to several “Women Scientists Scheme “targeting women with career breaks also marks the inception of amalgamation of both genders for betterment in their fields.