Impact of Sociocultural Norms on Career Progression of Female Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: Female dentists face multiple challenges that may hinder their career progression, including sociocultural norms, family responsibilities, and workplace barriers. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of female dentists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, regarding factors influencing their professional advancement. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 213 female dentists working in both public and private dental sectors across Hayatabad, Peshawar City, Abbottabad, and Swat. A structured, validated questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, professional practice, and perceived barriers categorized into family, interpersonal, environmental, and sociocultural domains. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to examine associations between these barriers and promotion status. Results: Most participants were aged 30–39 years (53.5%), married (76.1%), and specialists (65.7%), with the majority practicing full-time (93%). Family-related challenges were the most reported barriers, with 47.9% strongly agreeing that family responsibilities and 49.2% that balancing work and family affected their careers; 59.2% identified childcare responsibilities as a significant challenge. Interpersonal barriers included male dominance (26.8%) and gender discrimination (20.2%), while environmental challenges were most notable in safe transportation (41.3%) and driving restrictions (39.9%). Sociocultural barriers were also prominent, particularly societal beliefs assigning primary child-rearing responsibilities to women (73.2% strongly agree/agree) and the lack of family-friendly policies (58.2%). Logistic regression indicated that family and sociocultural challenges were significantly associated with lower promotion rates. Conclusions: Female dentists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face multifaceted barriers to career progression, driven largely by family, sociocultural, and environmental factors. Addressing these challenges through mentorship, flexible work policies, and equitable promotion practices may enhance professional advancement and leadership representation for women in dentistry.