Disclaimer: I am a white female and I represent the majority. In fact, I fit the cookie-cutter mold so well that my picture could be the stock photo that populates when ‘registered dietitian’ is searched on the internet (see below images).
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| Actual photo that generates under search term 'registered dietitian' |
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| My face, on the image of a 'registered dietitian' |
Therefore, as I write about the issue of a lack of diversity in the profession of nutrition and dietetics, I do not wish to convey that I have had similar experiences in pursuing the career as my underrepresented colleagues. I only wish to share their perspectives and advocate for such a critical issue affecting the profession.
In a 2017 study of registered dietitians’ heritage, 5% indicated Hispanic, 5% Asian, 3% black/African American, and 2% other. The other 89% you may ask? Well, those individuals indicated Caucasian. Within a country nicknamed ‘the global melting pot,’ the profession of nutrition and dietetics severely underrepresents the rich diversity that exists in the United States.
In another 2017 study by Wynn et al., underrepresented nutrition and dietetics practitioners were surveyed to shed light on the barriers minority individuals face when pursuing a career as a registered dietitian (RD). Some of the most common responses included financial concerns, an inability to relocate for program completion, a lack of stipends or additional funding for dietetic internships, experiencing a lack of self-confidence and self-efficacy, and difficulties gaining employment as a RD. With accreditation standards changing in 2024 to require all entry level RDs to secure a master’s degree, these barriers may be exacerbated.
TheAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy) as well as current RDs have made efforts to increase recruitment and retention of minority individuals. The Academy has established standing committees to create policies, strategies, and scholarship opportunities to directly help minority individuals become RDs. Meanwhile, RDs have worked to advocate and connect minority students to the profession including two RDs, Tamara Melton and Deanna Belleny, who established a nonprofit organization to foster community for underrepresented students, dietetic interns, and practitioners called Diversify Dietetics. Yet, even with these efforts, the profession remains dominated by white individuals.
In order to impact this issue, I think changes need to be made to the nutrition and dietetics education system and the Academy’s financial aid opportunities. Cultural knowledge is already a competency in nutrition and dietetics education. However, I think it could be improved using points from the social justice theory Black Feminist Epistemology. Points one and two of this theory encourage students to understand diversity in their communities by interacting with residents, listening to minority stories, and sharing in lived experiences. This hands-on approach to learning could help to increase cultural sensitivity of future RDs as well as increase the opportunities for student, practitioner mentoring.
In addition to education restructuring, I think it would be beneficial for the Academy to change the way it handles financial aid for minority students. The Academy could incorporate two principles of Teamwork Management Theory (Theory Z), by letting its members have control over how to use the funds for minority scholarships and/or financial aid. Then, the Academy could establish a financial assistance program for minority students that would be used throughout their educational career…dietetic internship included. A financial assistance program would offer larger and more consistent amounts of funding for minority students to afford becoming an RD (A main barrier found in the study by Wynn et al.).
To end, it is important to remember RDs are the nutrition experts of healthcare and are called to impact the health of the nation through evidence-based nutrition science. My question is, how are RDs supposed to achieve this goal if they don’t have a broad cultural understanding or diverse practitioners to meet people’s needs? A lack of diversity in nutrition and dietetics inhibits the success of the profession. Period. The body of practitioners needs to diversify, or the future of the profession is in danger.
I totally agree that the majority of registered dietitians work with more diverse professionals than themselves and we treat all heritages. It makes me wonder if the number of new registered dietitians will decrease in the next 20-30 years with the 2024 changes to undergraduate and graduate requirements.
ReplyDeleteI also have noticed that diversity in our field is lacking. Interestingly though, I learned about our field from my Muslim friend in high school and she also went on to pursue a degree in nutrition. In my undergrad, we had many males in the program and a male instructor, but that's the most diverse we ever got. I'm glad that you've identified this as an issue, and I am excited to see our field become more diverse in the future.
ReplyDeleteI love how you started your post by photoshopping your face on the picture! It was the perfect attention grabber. I'd love to see more financial assistance for future dietitians. As it stands now, I don't see how they can expect to increase diversity when students are expected to not work during an unpaid internship (that most likely will tend to be combined with a Master's program with the new requirements).
ReplyDeleteI am so astonished at how racially monochromatic this field is. It is amazing that people think voting rights and a half black president would've fixed issues like these. I'd be interested to see your solutions pan out in the long run. You've got some good ideas for sure!
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