Forced wearing of nursing cap.

[onetiredstudent]

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.

[somenurse]

My attitude is also "who cares?". As in "who cares if she comes to graduation without a cap on?" If her classmates get all spazed out about her not wearing a cap it's on *them*. What, is one female student showing up uncapped going to ruin their special "look at me, I'm a princess" day? Graduating from nursing school is it's own honor. One (or more) student refusing to wear a silly cap isn't going to ruin anything.

^THIS!!

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Your post is the first one i've noticed that uses the word "victim". The OP never used that word. And yes, she is being "forced" to wear a hat which has various meanings to various humans,

to attend a pretty big event in her life. If she doesn't don the pointy lil hat, (cuz she has no member) then she can not attend the graduation. Missing this event is a big deal for some graduates.

so is participating in what might feel like sexist costuming for some professional women. Many of today's modern women do balk at irrational rules which apply only to women.

(slightly off topic, but, i wish my friends in the middle east were as free to complain about irrational rules "from the majority", "in the name of tradition", applied only to women, too)

The OP, in her poll, asked if her school's policy was sexist. She implies that it is. If it is, she is a victim. She believes the policy is sexist, she believes she is a victim.

She asked if the school should be barred from getting federal government money if they discriminate. If they discriminate against her, she is a victim. She believes they discriminated, therefore, she believes she is a victim.

As a modern, professional man, I balk at rules that apply only to men (see my post about my school's dress code for our pinning ceremony). I also realize that they are battles worth fighting and times to just let it go. The dress code for a ceremony--let it go.

P.S. I don't see any reason why the women should be forced to wear a cap. I just think its a bit extreme to be yelling "discrimination!"

[somenurse]

The OP, in her poll, asked if her school's policy was sexist. She implies that it is. If it is, she is a victim. She believes the policy is sexist, she believes she is a victim.

She asked if the school should be barred from getting federal government money if they discriminate. If they discriminate against her, she is a victim. She believes they discriminated, therefore, she believes she is a victim.

As a modern, professional man, I balk at rules that apply only to men (see my post about my school's dress code for our pinning ceremony). I also realize that they are battles worth fighting and times to just let it go. The dress code for a ceremony--let it go.

P.S. I don't see any reason why the women should be forced to wear a cap. I just think its a bit extreme to be yelling "discrimination!"

Near as i can tell, no one here is yelling, just discussing the nursing cap. I don't always view those who have different viewpoints from me, as "yelling" or even hostile/upset/need to chill out/ etc (other posts, not yours)

but,

some folks do figure,

"if they don't agree with me, they are yelling."

I'm not yelling, i just don't see the rational basis for forcing the women to don what IS seen by many to be a sexist headgear. Not all modern, professional women appreciate wearing a frenchmaid looking hat.

IF IF IF the OP could attend, with or without a cap, fine, no problem. But denying her to participate,

unless she wears this hat which apparently makes no sense to her,

can feel like a big deal. It IS discrimination to deny her attendance to this event unless she wears what feels like a silly bit of sexist headwear cuz she has no member.

[somenurse]

To the OP,

go to your big event,

and just announce that you are now a transvestite,

so you'll be skipping the lil frenchmaid looking hat.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Near as i can tell, no one here is yelling, just discussing the nursing cap. I don't always view those who have different viewpoints from me, as "yelling" or even hostile/upset/need to chill out/ etc (other posts, not yours)

but,

some folks do figure,

"if they don't agree with me, they are yelling."

I'm not yelling, i just don't see the rational basis for forcing the women to don what IS seen by many to be a sexist headgear. Not all modern, professional women appreciate wearing a frenchmaid looking hat.

IF IF IF the OP could attend, with or without a cap, fine, no problem. But denying her to participate,

unless she wears this hat which apparently makes no sense to her,

can feel like a big deal. It IS discrimination to deny her attendance to this event unless she wears what feels like a silly bit of sexist headwear cuz she has no member.

Maybe yelling is the wrong word for me to use...however, the OP asked if it is right if a school that discriminates based on gender still receives federal funding. (I paraphrase) For me, that is a ridiculous question. Do I think its silly to make all the women wear caps? Very silly. However, I would be, well, mad as heck if my school raises tuition or my financial aid was jeopardized because the school has to defend itself from frivolous charges.

[somenurse]

Maybe yelling is the wrong word for me to use...however, the OP asked if it is right if a school that discriminates based on gender still receives federal funding. (I paraphrase) For me, that is a ridiculous question. Do I think its silly to make all the women wear caps? Very silly. However, I would be, well, mad as heck if my school raises tuition or my financial aid was jeopardized because the school has to defend itself from frivolous charges.

Yes, that probably would make you mad.

but, pulling federal funding is eggggzactly how many anti-discrimination rules are enforced. MOney is always bottom line on so many things.

BUT, good news, I rather doubt this would rise to that level,

because

i'd imagine,

if if if if if if if it actually appeared someone actually did call a lawyer, or the ACLU, or whoever,

my guess is,

the school board would ask themselves, "Is forcing people without memberes to wear irrational headgear against their will really worth a lawsuit?" and change the rules to make the lil pointy cap optional, not mandatory.

and i think, in a thread that is now 12 pages long,

it seems only a very few of the 100s of posts

have even mentioned legal recourse. It's not the main gist of this thread, imo.

[FDW630]

I just don't get where it is discrimination. It is a dress code. What about the schools that require the guys to wear a tie? "No fair...the women aren't required to wear ties! I I hate ties and I voted 'no' on them. I am totally being discriminated against." Same theory. Since when is not requiring a man to wear a woman's accessory discrimination against women? OP can disagree with the requirement and think hats are ridiculous and be upset that she is required to wear one all she wants, but it isn't discrimination. I feel like calling nitpicky things like this "discrimination" cheapens the actual definition for people who actually are victims of it.

I can see why OP is upset. I wouldn't be, because I wouldn't care. I also don't think it is something to be so riled up about.

Choose your battles, people.

[somenurse]

I just don't get where it is discrimination. It is a dress code. What about the schools that require the guys to wear a tie? "No fair...the women aren't required to wear ties! I I hate ties and I voted 'no' on them. I am totally being discriminated against." Same theory. Since when is not requiring a man to wear a woman's accessory discrimination against women? OP can disagree with the requirement and think hats are ridiculous and be upset that she is required to wear one all she wants, but it isn't discrimination. I feel like calling nitpicky things like this "discrimination" cheapens the actual definition for people who actually are victims of it.

I can see why OP is upset. I wouldn't be, because I wouldn't care. I also don't think it is something to be so riled up about.

Choose your battles, people.

A tie IS a customary bit of clothing for men. Women could probably wear ties if they wanted to. In the 80s, there was a bit of a fad with women wearing ties, no one minded.

A little frenchmaid looking hat is not a bit of customary clothing for anyone now. It does not have positive connotations for all modern professional women.

The older nurses who still wear the caps, are pretty infrequent now. I've seen one in past ten years. One.

It IS discrimination IF the OP is not allowed to attend her ceremony,

if her gender is singled out to wear some bit of clothing that feels sexist to her, or might feel irrational to her,

based on the fact she has no member.

If they said, "Wear a cap if you want to. Skip the cap if it strikes you as archaic, sexist, etc, skip the cap and come celebrate with us anyway." FINE!! NO PROBLEM. (OKAY, i kinda embellished the remarks in ways they probably would not have said, ha ha, sorry!)

but,

to be denied the chance and honor to participate

if the people without memberes don't wear lil pointy hats,

IS discrimination.

Sure, many seem to think not attending one's pinning is no big deal. It was a big deal to me. It might feel like a big deal to the OP, who knows. It IS an irrational thing to mandate this. there is no logical reason to force one gender to dress up in odd ways for these modern times to participate. Optional? i'm all for it! Yay!

it's debatable whether having a discussion on a forum equates to "being riled up" or a "battle" but, many people do seem to think, calmly expressing opinions which dont' match other opinions, is the same thing as "being riled up". I don't see it that way, though.

i do understand the OP's point, it is an irrational thing she is being forced to do to participate in her own ceremony. It should not have been mandatory, imo,

but only optional.

then,

everyone is happy.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I'm sorry, but wearing a cap for a ceremony is NOT discrimination when taken in the light of federal funding. Why are you trying to turn it into that??

If they said "men wears suits, women wear bikinis"...yes that is discrimination. I know the example seems silly, but not more silly than that saying being "forced" to wear a cap is discrimination.

Sorry, to get worked up about you comment, but this sort of "victim" talk is really going to far!

If one is FTM transgender, than this is not going too far. And insulting to suggest one is being a "victim" or some pp comments of "just wear it already" and "it could affect your JOB" If one's personal political and/or religious beliefs are such that this is not something that they do not want to participate in wearing.....well, then so be it. The purpose is pinning, not who wears what when. BTW my LPN class was not given the option to wear caps. The director of the program felt it a priveledge of an RN to wear one.

The only person I have seen wear a cap with a scrub set was Nurse Dixie on those old episodes of "Emergency" from the 70's.

With all that being said, this is a class of adults. Who should be able to wear whatever combination of hat/scrub that they want to in whatever color the class could choose. Honestly, who is going to stand up and say "HEYYYYY that student is NOT wearing a cap....she should be EXCUSED!!!" Betcha a coke that one of the females in a cap will in fact wear the dress and hose with it. And should be able to if they would like.

This is not some sort of cult thing......

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I tend to agree with you.

However, I was leading a class meeting about our pinning ceremony. The topic of how to dress came up. Someone said jeans with a nice shirt (polo, button down, etc.) was appropriate. Someone else said "no, you are ruining the decorum of my (yes, their words) ceremony and ruining my accomplishment by not being dressed your best." The person who wanted to wear jeans was a male and the student who objected to it was a female. A fairly civil debate ensued. The prevailing attitude was that men will look professional in ties and dress pants/a suit (with no jeans), but it would be professional for women to wear jeans with a nice top (dress sweater, jacket, etc). The vote on the pinning ceremony dress code was just that--men in dress pants, women could wear jeans. (Class was majority female.) The college still has financial support from the federal government.

Call me old school, but I don't consider jeans "dressed to your best" by any means, so the female who is concerned about "ruining decorum"......it is ok for females, but not for males???? Discrimitory.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Call me old school, but I don't consider jeans "dressed to your best" by any means, so the female who is concerned about "ruining decorum"......it is ok for females, but not for males???? Discrimitory.

My point exactly...yet it happened. (And, for the record, no one, including me, raised any issues with it.)

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

If one is FTM transgender, than this is not going too far.

Where is this coming from?? This debate has nothing do being transgender, which is a totally different discussion.