Evil Estrogen Empire - The Silent Menace

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As I sit back and reflect on my 23 years of health care employment I mediate on those things that have inspired and discouraged me in these endeavors. In my various roles and responsibilities I would sometimes find myself at odds with "the establishment" and for the most part understood the conflict I encountered.

But then I entered nursing and discovered that this profession had it's own version of the "good old boy" network that a CRNA friend of mine described as the "evil estrogen empire". Granted this is not a flattering term but was a catchy phrase to describe a certain clique in nursing that seemed to resist the idea of men practicing nursing.

I have read countless threads on the various flavors of this subject and can see that there exists substantial difference of opinion on the etiology or even the existence of this phenomenon.

The real question is this, if you accept the premise that men in nursing are subjected to various negative stereotypes, gender bias and other forms of discrimination what is the best approach to redress these grievances.

Should men just ignore the problem and hope that things will get better or should they become more proactive on this issue and attempt to educate others on the consequences of such behavior?

-HBS

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

Better ring to whom?

Phrases like that, as i said, are only aggravating the existing problem.

Then you acknowledge the problem does exist? And yes uncaring, insensitive remarks do aggravate the problem which is not my intent. But then again I find the term "male nurse" insulting.

My intent is to identify a problem that exists in nursing practice and solicit constructive responses that helps to solve the problem.

-HBS

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by hbscott

My intent is to identify a problem that exists in nursing practice and solicit constructive responses that helps to solve the problem.

-HBS

I'm not acknowledging the problem exists. I'm only acknowledging that there might be a problem.

It would help not to label the problem with a sexist title, that's all i'm saying.

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

I'm not acknowledging the problem exists. I'm only acknowledging that there might be a problem.

I guess there lies the issue. Coming to agreement on what problem really is. But then again that depends upon "what the definition of is .... is....."

-HBS

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by hbscott

I guess there lies the issue. Coming to agreement on what problem really is. But then again that depends upon "what the definition of is .... is....."

-HBS

Whatever.

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

Whatever.

Good Movie!

(see link http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/whatever/)

but I don't see how that response is constructive to the stated problem and the endeavor to seek an appropriate remedy and redress.

-HBS

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Is that what you're really looking for, because i'm not getting that impresssion for some reason?

Dunno.

(as Deb said, i won't dignify this with anymore here)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

Is that what you're really looking for, because i'm not getting that impresssion for some reason?

It is indeed what I am looking for and as they say "denial" is not just a river in Egypt.

And apathy doesn't help either.

But then again change doesn't come easy for people set in their ways.

Thanks anyway for your input. It does shed some light on contempary attitudes in nursing practice today.

-HBS

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

:roll :rotfl:

Isn't it though? :D

Originally posted by stressednurse

...Haven't we been striving for equality for the last 50 years or so?...Honestly, I have worked with good and bad women and men in nursing and other fields too, lets just hire the best and keep em.

Yep, people should be hired, paid and promoted based upon individual merit and not gender.

That is indeed the real issue.

-HBS

Well, "Male nurse" title dosen't exist in my environnment, but you guys sure do come in handy for lifting.

LOL just kidding.

OK for real.. on one dementia unit a male face does make a difference when one certain male patient gets testy.

But on the same unit when we put a female face in there the place quiets down exceptionally well.

Go figure.......

Good God, we are all needed at the appropriate time for the patients. Maybe we could work that out sometime.

Love you all

Originally posted by stressednurse

Good God, we are all needed at the appropriate time for the patients. Maybe we could work that out sometime. Love you all

I would agree that there are unique gender traits that contribute to aptitude and outcomes. No doubt about it. But I find it curious that some women (who have been fighting these same issues for so long in other settings in the so called "man's world") have been guilty of the same behavior in their own proverbial backyard.

-HBS

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