Gender Study
Gender Assessment of Veterinary Services in South-East Asia
July 25, 2023
Read more
Woman cattle farmer in Thailand. Credit: Narong Khueankaew, Getty Images
8 March 2024 (Asia Pacific) – #InspireInclusion. This is the theme of International Women’s Day 2024 which WOAH Asia Pacific is celebrating today and every day and inviting you to join us. When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
Ongoing research and partnerships between WOAH and its Members show us that there is still a long way to go to enable women’s empowerment in the animal health sector. Yet there are clear ways forward.
Veterinarian leading a rabies training at Bengaluru, India. Credit: Kinzang Dukpa, WOAH RRAP
A recent study commissioned by WOAH stressed the continuously growing number of women veterinarians in South-East Asia. It also strongly highlighted how national governments, veterinary statutory bodies, veterinary associations and paraprofessional associations, training institutions, employers, and livestock associations, amongst others, can improve conditions for women’s engagement in the sector, leading ultimately to improved services for women and improved animal health overall.
One interesting finding of the survey was the common assumption that women are not suitable for and are not inclined towards working with large animals. This contributes to see women channelled into small animal practice while the questionnaires and interviews reflecting the aspirations of women showed a much more nuanced reality.
Veterinarian administers rabies vaccine in Bengkulu, West Java, Indonesia. Credit: Riocontribae, Shutterstock
An interview we published with a senior professional in the region shows how women leaders are acting as role models for women to advance the fields of veterinary research and practice.
To do more and inspire the future, we can ask questions like:
You can ask these questions to animal health professionals you know or work with and start conversations in your communities about what these futures might look like.
Together, we can #InspireInclusion.
