FEMINIZATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND LEADERSHIP GAPS: INTERNATIONAL EVIDENCE AND CHALLENGES IN CHILE

Abstract

The veterinary profession has undergone a profound demographic transformation over the past decades due to the increasing participation of women. Despite the consolidation of a female majority in veterinary education and in the professional workforce in many countries, this transition has not necessarily been accompanied by a proportional redistribution of leadership and decision-making positions. This article examines how the feminization of veterinary medicine interacts with persistent gender gaps in leadership. A narrative literature review was conducted using international scientific literature and institutional reports, integrating evidence from North America, Europe, and Latin America with statistical and institutional information from Chile. The findings indicate that although women constitute the majority of veterinary graduates in many regions, they remain underrepresented in executive leadership, practice ownership, and high-level academic positions. This discrepancy suggests that feminization has altered the demographic structure of the profession without necessarily transforming the organizational mechanisms that shape access to power. The article highlights the importance of examining leadership structures, professional networks, and institutional dynamics in order to understand the persistence of gender gaps within a profession that is numerically female- dominated.