With regard to the ‘cause’ of this phenomenon, several explanations have been offered, including improvement in chemical restraints available for large animals, the elimination of gender-based admission discrimination and the generally caring portrayal of veterinarians in both the literature and on television (Lofstedt, 2003:534). Controversially, perhaps, the marked increase in women entering the veterinary profession and, in parallel, the decline in men’s participation, may also be attributed to the relatively lower salary levels of veterinary professionals (Lofstedt, 2003). This hypothesis builds on Tuchman’s (1989) argument that professions deemed to be lacking in appropriate economic incentives and, by association, cultural legitimacy,.
