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I joined Snout Squad because...
There are so many women in veterinary medicine but so few opportunities for women to come together, as a collective, to support each other and to be heard.
I move in practice management circles and regularly find myself as one of a few women in the room surrounded by middle aged men, who prefer to hear from other middle aged men, who dismiss my opinion simply because of my reproductive organs.
This is a part of my team. Here we are a group of women supporting each other & providing the best care we can for our patient, and not one of us is using our reproductive organs to do so.
Fortunately, their arrogance doesn’t make me think that I don’t belong, it highlights to me that they are the ones with the issue, that they will have trouble moving forward in the veterinary industry and that they don’t know what they are missing out on. I worry for other younger female veterinary professionals who may not have the life experience and confidence to know they belong too.
My first boss was a trailblazer. She graduated in a time when women were not the graduating majority. She was solo practice owner. She grew her business. She normalised that women can own successful veterinary hospitals on their own. She helped me believe that I can do that too.
Meet my first work family. Dr Linda is holding the award. She was my first veterinary role model. She was a small business owner, grew her practice from a one woman practice to a fantastic 3 vet hospital on her own. She encouraged me, challenged me and let me believe in myself.
My rose coloured glasses were shattered after I left her practice, I soon realised that most practices are in fact owned by men and that some men believe a woman's place is at home with the children. In fact during an interview I once was asked “Belinda, are you sure you want this superintendent job or do you just want a job… you are a mum!” Cue innate rage!
Here I am, being a vet, a general manager and mum all at the same time. Not impossible!
Like my first boss I want to be there to normalise that women belong at the leadership table, that you don’t have to work full time to progress your career, that women are the best advocates for other women, that there is no shame in being successful at what you do and that it is important to be true to yourself.
Danielle and Snout School have taught me so much about veterinary social media. I can’t wait to see what our Snout Squad can achieve! There are so many talented women as a part of this group with a wide ranging variety of skills. Look out world. We’re coming!
Snout Squad will officially launch next week so be sure to be following Snout School on Facebook and check out the new website when it is launched at www.snoutschool.com
And if you can't wait to find out who some of the amazing woman are who will be a part of Snout Squad here is a sneak peak at a few
Veterinarians
Dr Jessica Vogelsang - Pawcurious
Dr V is a published author, well known and loved speaker, writer and more. You can read her fabulous blog about women in Veterinary Medicine here http://pawcurious.com/2014/03/lean-on-over-and-around/
Dr Caitlin DeWilde - The Social DVM
Like Danielle, Dr DeWilde is a social media master who shares fantastic tips around social media use for veterinary hospitals. Check out some of her great tutorials on her Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/TheSocialDVM/
Dr Cyndie Courtney - The Jerk Researcher and Vet Changes World
Dr Cyndie Courtney is another multi-talented vet. When she is wearing her Jerk Researcher hat she is all about making the world less mean! I regularly listen to her as a host of the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast. For more info visit her website https://www.thejerkresearcher.com/
Dr Lindsay Butzer - Florida based Small Animal Vet
She posts regularly to Instagram and has a great YouTube channel too. Follow her here https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybutzerdvm
Veterinary Students
Rachel - BellaVet
Check out her amazing YouTube channel all about getting into Vet School and beyond here https://www.youtube.com/bellavet
Kristi - 3rd Year Vet Student
Check out her vet school life on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/dogtorkristi/
Veterinary Technicians
Kelsey Beth Carpenter - RVT, write, singer/songwriter
Kelsey has a wicked sense of humour and a brilliant take on all things vet med related. Follow her on Facebook and you won't regret it! http://www.facebook.com/kelseybethcarpenter
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Written by Dr Belinda Parsons+
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Dr Belinda on Social Media
I had such similar experiences. Even when I had relatively “liberal” or “progressive” male bosses they often made statements that shocked me and made me feel like they were just lumping me in with “all those other women.” I also realized how much harassment and sexism I faced during the negotiation process and how important it was for me to help inform and educate other women so that they didn’t feel as shocked and alone as I did. Thank you so much for posting this!
Hi Cyndie,
It is a sad fact that our experiences are not ones of a few isolated incidents but more of an endemic problem within the industry. I choose everyday to be the change that I crave and lead the way I want to be lead. The more we support each other and talk out against it the less common it will become and more we will see positive change. So important to help other women learn from our experiences and help them to shape better ones for themselves.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us