I'm a senior registered nursing student and our school has a pinning ceremony to mark the completion of our program.
Our class contains about 20% men, equal split of black and white in both genders. I am approaching 50 and this is not my first career.
The director of the nursing program gave the class the "option to vote" on the wearing of a nurses cap for the pinning ceremony and our class photo. The majority of the class voted to wear the cap, men excluded from wear.
I do not wish to wear the cap and have been told by program director that "the class voted to wear it and you have to or you will not be able to participate". I understand the cap is traditional, but I feel it calls specific attention to my gender and not my success in passing nursing school. I've worked very hard to get where I'm at and I wish to celebrate my success with a pinning ceremony.
I truly feel that being "forced" to wear the cap is discriminatory based on my gender alone. Period. The guys are not made to wear them because they are considered "feminine or female dress", and I don't wish to be "forced" to dress as such either (we are all wearing pant-scrubs by unanimous vote).
I respect the choice of anyone else that wishes to wear the nursing cap. I don't and won't presume to force my opinion on them.
Has anyone else had this experience?
Does anyone know of any precedence against forced wearing of nursing caps to participate in school activities, etc? Any input on how else to proceed in approaching my school administration would be appreciated.
I welcome the input from both genders, seasoned and new nurses, students and educators, and anyone else on here that wants to chime in.
I ask only, that you be nice to me and each other. This is very serious for me.
