Did you know that Lucy Beaman Hobbs was the first registered female dentist?
And she had to overcome many challenges along the way!
After being refused entry to a dental school on several occasions because of her gender, she benefited from the tutoring of higher education graduates who helped her acquire knowledge. That didn't stop her from opening her own practice, even without a diploma!
She persevered and did what she wanted to do: “enter a profession where she could earn her bread not alone by the sweat of her brow, but by the use of her brains also.” As we celebrate International Women's Day, it's important to recognise pioneers like her, who paved the way for women in dentistry as long ago as 1866!
As more women enter the field of dentistry, it's inspiring to see how far we've come.
Thanks to this, women now make up a growing percentage of the world's dentists!
Let's continue to empower and support each other in this ever-evolving industry!