Sigh ... I remember the good old days, when nurses were ladies with decorum and grace instead of today's overweight, disgruntled, unappealing, and frankly scary behemoths.
Posted on 05/03/2005 1:39:42 PM PDT by pissant
When an accident brought Drew Brown to the emergency room in January 2000, hospital workers took on new importance to him. The nurses who attended to Brown became critical players in a moment of trauma and uncertainty.
The first nurse’s indifference evoked feelings of distrust and fear. A second nurse developed a relationship with Brown that comforted him and made him feel empowered to make decisions. The impact of these differences helped Brown decide to become a nurse.
Wait. Many people would clarify that Brown decided to become a “male nurse.”
The need for this distinction hints at a gender divide in the demographics of some professions. Brown made a career choice based on personal experiences and interests — yet he still stands out as unusual.
This isn’t a new occurrence; many other cultures throughout the world have separated male and female labor. But in the United States, this continued division in some workplaces stands in stark contrast to our culture’s emphasis on individuality and equality. Nursing means more than a paycheck to Brown, a senior at MU. He said he craves the intensity and excitement of the high-pressure atmosphere of an emergency room, a nursing area with an inordinately high percentage of men.
“The challenge appeals to me, and it appeals to a lot of guys,” Brown said. “Speaking in general, men thrive in that type of environment.”
Thriving men are few in the the nursing profession.
At MU, men have constituted less than 12 percent of nursing students for the past eight years. Since 2000, they have made up less than 10 percent. This pattern extends beyond universities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 6 percent of nurses in the country are male.
Organizations and schools across the nation are searching for ways to change this pattern, especially with recent nursing shortages.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City started an undergraduate nursing program three years ago, with the first class graduating this month. UMKC has made an effort to teach and prepare underrepresented groups to be successful in nursing; the UMKC School of Nursing targets blacks, Hispanics, Asians and men.
“The goal is that eventually the population of nurses mirrors the population they serve,” said Thad Wilson, associate dean for the UMKC School of Nursing.
Wilson’s background in nursing has led him to think gender roles are instilled at the beginning of adolescence.
“The visual images of nursing are so feminine that boys from sixth grade to the end of high school don’t have what it takes to declare they want to be nurses, because it’s so important to be what is considered a man,” Wilson said. “To change this, we’re going to have to reach down to these early grades.”
Brown said he has never felt any censure from the doctors and nurses he works with. But he said that some patients — especially elderly patients — seem less comfortable with his gender. And he knows people outside the medical community hold preconceived notions.
“There is a stigma with male nurses because it was viewed as a woman’s role for so long,” he said. “Men picture male nurses as someone very effeminate who is in touch with their feelings or something.”
Mark Pioli, a graduate student and assistant sociology professor at MU, has observed that women who cross gender lines are labeled as empowered, while men who cross gender lines are deemed less masculine. Part of this may be because of the definition of masculinity.
“Women have an easier time breaking into new professions because it is not unexpected for women to challenge stereotypes,” Pioli said. “Masculinity is more fragile and defined largely in terms of what is not female.”
Zach Strom, a senior in elementary education and a kicker for the MU football team, faces constant teasing about his major. In his more recent classes, there are usually one or two guys in classes of about 25 students. But for him, deciding on a career wasn’t about fitting into a definition of masculinity — it was a lot simpler.
“All the guys on the team ask me how I can stand to do this for a job when we do volunteer work at the Boys and Girls Club,” Strom said. “But I just like being around kids.”
Women are also the minority in many professions. In engineering at MU, women have made up less than 20 percent of students for the past eight years — and the numbers have steadily declined. Women have made up less than 13 percent for the past two years.
Brown plans on starting a nursing position in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital, working the night shift on the weekends so he can be home with his two daughters during the day. Nursing has given him confidence to make tough decisions, he said, and it has also taught him an important lesson to convey to his children.
“It’s made me really think about gender roles,” he said, “and I’m going to try really hard not to instill those in my children.”
männliche Krankenschwester. Somehow it just dosen't fit. Krankenbrudder, maybe?
"Male nurse stands...it's just a frickin' weird profession for a guy."
Why is it "wierd"? Nurses were male as a matter of course until Florence Nightingale came along in the mid 19th century. She had a hard time getting the authorities to let her set up her hospitals during the Crimean War because it wasn't considered a "proper" job for a woman. So now it's the other way around! There's no inherent gender distinction involved in the actual job description. BTW men were the first secretaries, typists, etc., too. Only gradually did those become "women's jobs."
They are only really called that in conversation. The official title (generally under contract) reflects their degree program: R.N., L.P.N., C.R.N.A., etc.
I prefer working with male nurses.
We had one at our local ICU that drew alot of female family members to visit "loved" ones from the communtity.
I find it easier to communicate with males in the medical field.
But then again I prefer working with men overall.
ROFL!
MCP's abound!
I drove a forklift on loading docks for about 20 years.
One of the other drivers had been on vacation when I was hired came back to work.
When we were introduced, he looked at me and went
"You can't unload rigs...you're a GIRL!"
I just look at him horrified and said:
"Mister, if THAT'S what you've been steering the forklifts with, remind me to invest in some gloves!"
:)
Excellent!
I tell them that the airplane comes with it's own stick, you don't need to bring your own.
Same idea!
lol!
"Where?"
_____________________________________
there seems to be some male feminists around
Sigh ... I remember the good old days, when nurses were ladies with decorum and grace instead of today's overweight, disgruntled, unappealing, and frankly scary behemoths.
As your sterotypical chauvanist, I can say I have little or no problem with chicks in male dominated fields (Big exception being combat and things requiring brute strength).
Its the fellers who wanna be stewardesses and secretaries that bothers me. Put a skirt on already!
nice pics. I don't know about the women, but the uniforms sure looked better in the previous generation.
You are so open minded. I wouldn't hire a male secretary if he was the last available on the planet. For stewardesses, It's just a selfish thing. 3 hour flights looking at some swishy male butt doesn't work for me.
As long as he swishes my cocktail over to me in a timely manner - who cares.
They did dress better and that cap seemed to demand respect sort of like a badge of office. These days I don't know if they are dressed for sleep or work.
apparently, I do. As for secretaries, having a flamer at your front desk is probably AOK in Seattle or SF. In my business though, dominated by mostly conservative males, it still hasn't got over that hurdle.
Prior to this company, I worked at a downtown Seattle firm that had a) male secretary and b) a transexual engineer.
I had to go to UTAH with the transexual for a design meeting. I spent the next year hearing the jokes from the client.
Do you work in the cockpit or the box office?
I agree - transexuals are funny.
I don't know if I would put my swishers at the front desk - but they were good administrative support. (and they could lift heavy things).
d
I think the scrubs are more practical though. But any opportunity to see a woman's legs works for me.
Thanks for the ping. The article was interesting, but the comments here were more interesting. Lots of narrow-minded conservatives around here (half-kidding. Many FReepers complain about being stereotyped, yet there's a lot of that going on in this thread).
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