Forced wearing of nursing cap.

Nursing Students General Students

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  1. Is this sexist or gender bias?

    • 95
      yes
    • 101
      no

196 members have participated

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.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I don't think a pinning ceremony should be considered "silly" or something that you should feel foolish about. It is to honor the graduating students and gives them a right of passage into nursing. It has been a tradition for over a 1,000 years. A college-wide formal graduation is not even personal in my opinion. The pinning ceremony is intimate, with your classmates, teachers, and family. Maybe since you've already "been there, done that" with another degree, you don't care, but to me, I am a 21 year old who will be graduating with my first college degree and I am very proud of myself and want others to recognize my accomplishments.

What have you been smoking? How can the pinning ceremony be a1000-year-old tradition when nursing school hasn't even existed for a fraction of that long? ? ?

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There are certain things that are proper in this world. For example, it is not proper for a woman to wear pants to a "black tie" event, no matter how dressy they are.

You have never seen "wedding pants".

A girl I graduated from high school with, was a lesbian. She was told to wear a dress under her gown or not walk through the ceremony...I agreed with the decision.

The pinning ceremony is optional. You can always choose to skip it. There will be many things in your career where you will be in the minority opinion. It's a cap, it won't kill you.

Sexism and tradition is not the same thing. They are trying to bring dignity to the ceremony by having both genders the same. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else for you to be the lone stand out.

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The cap is definitely sexist and discriminatory. Get a lawyer.

If she feels strongly enough about being discriminated against, get a lawyer and go for the jugular.

* Snigger Snigger*:sarcastic:

Is this really something to litigate????!!!

Lawyer: " Yes, madame...what seems to be the issue?"

Client: " I'm being sexually discriminated against!!"

Lawyer: " Interesting....How so?...Tell me everything"

Client: " They're making me where a nursing cap at my grad, but the men don't have to!"

Lawyer: " GET OUT!!!"

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I am a firm believer in tradition. I believe if you respect the traditions you also respect the profession. It shows pride and professionalism. I believe that there needs to be a return to some of the traditions to bolster professionalism. I have always felt that the cap did not make the nurse....although I was very proud of my cap and I still have mine. The loss of these traditions I believe has hurt the profession. Does a police officer graduating from the academy refuse to show up and recessive a badge? NO!

But that is just my opinion.

However......I think we need to be respectful to remember to be polite and respectful of each others opinions, thoughts and feelings. It's ok to to disagree as long as we are respectful and polite. :)

ps....;) technically, nursing began as a practice reserved for men. The first nursing school was established in India in about 250 B.C., and only men were permitted to attend because men were viewed to be more pure than women.

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What have you been smoking? How can the pinning ceremony be a1000-year-old tradition when nursing school hasn't even existed for a fraction of that long? ? ?

OMG! She's not be literal...

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Specializes in Case Management.

Jamie Farr did it... :yes:

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Specializes in Solid Organ Transplant.

I am really pulling up a chair on this discussion, but really have a strong opinion so wanted to contribute. I have been an LPN for 38 years now; I graduated from PN school in 1974. Everyone was still wearing nurse's caps, including at work- not just for pictures. I even graduated before they began being able to wear pan uniforms (which was a real curse, trust me!) Nursing caps catch on everything when you are caring for patients with multiple lines and wires attached, heavy equipment overhead like trapeze bars, and monitors hung above a bed. There are dress codes to address keeping hair need and out of what you are doing with patients. Since the wearing of caps is pretty much extinct in the workplace, I do not see why one should be made to wear them for the pinning ceremony. It just doesn't signify anymore. Plus, to me, the cap has always been a symbol of servitude, not caring. Nurses are more than servants, and I believe we should avoid all symbols which would agree with that view. I'm in school now, almost finished. I wouldn't mind a pinning ceremony, that is a matter of pride and nurses do still wear their school pins. I very much doubt that I will go to any ceremony, though, as I will have plenty of expenses, am working on a strict time table (under a lot of pressure to get done) and won't wait for a ceremony. I am >50 years old, and don't need that to know I have an Associate's Degree. I hope I haven't sounded too hard-line, I just do by now have strong feelings about the nursing cap, etc. Hope this gives someone a new point of view. ;)

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Is this really happening? This is really a thread?... Sorry but just graduate and go about your biz. Isn't there bigger fish to fry?

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ps....;) technically, nursing began as a practice reserved for men. The first nursing school was established in India in about 250 B.C., and only men were permitted to attend because men were viewed to be more pure than women.

Then if we're going with "tradition," instead of making only women wear a cap, we should not allow the women to attend at all.

Is that ok with those who are arguing to stick with the tradition?

There are lots of things that are traditional, and need to end. If it's sexist, I don't care how "traditional" it is, it's STILL SEXIST and needs to stop.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
Is this really happening? This is really a thread?... Sorry but just graduate and go about your biz. Isn't there bigger fish to fry?

Praise!

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If you're complaining about wearing a cap to a ceremony because it isnt fair- I can only imagine what you'll complain about once you start working.

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I really don't get why this thread is 16 pages long... Can someone explain this!?... It's kinda driving me crazy.

Maybe there's a link to that and people not doing well in nursing school... LOL cause we care too much about the small stuff and don't see the bigger picture. Hate me all you wanna, but really. All this over a HAT?... And that's sexist?...

I'm confused.

YOU signed up for the gig. Should of asked about hats before you applied. Lol.

Does this thread make anyone else want a beer?

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