Why Are There So Few Men In Nursing? Essay -- Nursing

Among twenty leading female-dominated professions, registered nurses (RN’s) are the second most occupation that employed women in 2006 ¬. Similar to many traditionally female professions, the percentage of male in nursing is small. In fact, male nurses only comprised eight percent of RN’s in 2008. Although much effort has been made to recruit more men into nursing, many contributing factors have driven them away from this profession. Those factors include poor nursing image, negative public perception, low economic status, and gender stereotypes. One of the most significant factors that deter men from entering the profession is stereotypes. Research shows that men might be more likely to encounter stereotypes than discrimination; however, gender discrimination throughout the society still exists, which may discourage them from entering the profession. Gender segregation has separated male nurses into the minority group that faces many obstacles within the professio n, in which negative stereotypes are the primary obstacle for men who want to enter the nursing force. Although women historically have been the majority in the nursing workforce, the earliest record of male nurses known to perform nursing duties was between the fourth and fifth centuries. The first removal of men in nursing noted in the sixteenth century due to the destruction of many monastic institutions . In the mid-nineteenth century, Florence Nightingale initiated the idea of nursing as an exclusively woman’s profession. Nightingale believed only women had the capability to do nursing work because it was natural to them. Her vision caused the complete dissolution of male workforce in nursing . Only until 1955, for the first time, the military allowed men to se... ...ity Indianapolis, 2005), pp. 51, 52, 65. Web 12, April. 2012. https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/1675 â€Å"What is Behind HRSA's Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortage of Registered Nurses?† Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA, 2004). Web 22, April. 2012. http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/healthcare/pdf/behind_the_shortage.pdf Williams, Christine. â€Å"The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the ‘Female’ Professions.† Social Problems (1992), pp. 227-240 â€Å"Women's Bureau (WB) – 20 Leading Occupations of Employed Women.† U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2006). Web 22, April. 2012. http://www.dol.gov/wb/factsheets/20lead2006.htm â€Å"Women’s Bureau – Quick Facts on Registered Nurses (RNs).† U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007). Web 22, April. 2012. http://www.dol.gov/wb/factsheets/Qf-nursing-08.htm