Frustrated with the image of nursing

[Missa]

I'm getting really tired of the lack of respect I receive as a nurse. I would like to tell you about a recent example of something that infuriated me. I attended a Fantasia party (a home party for "sensual" items) at a friend's house a couple of nights ago. At one point, I left the room to use the washroom. Upon my return, the salesperson was showing off a "naughty nurse" outfit. The other guests of the party all enthusiastically agreed that I needed to buy that one. I like to think that I'm a pretty fun, open minded, easy going person, but this ticked me off! :angryfire I replied that I had no interest in such an outfit and as a professional nurse, I found it to be offensive. The conversation ended abruptly and the salesperson moved on to the "sexy maid" outfit. :icon_roll I think part of the reason that this upset me so much was that all of the other guests (including my friend who was the host) were female lawyers (traditionally a male profession). I have always got the feeling that my lawyer friend does not respect what I do. I get the impression that to her a nurse is someone who couldn't cut it in med school. Honestly, I haven't got all of my feelings on this subject worked out in my mind yet, but I do know that I have dedicated years of my life to getting where I am today. I completed a 3 year diploma nursing program 8 years ago. I did a 4 month critical care certificate program 5 years ago and most recently, I completed my BScN (I graduate tomorrow!). I have worked in a neuro/trauma ICU for 5 years. It is challenging work and I love it. Not just anyone can do it....I'm quite certain that my lawyer friend could not. I just want to scream that nurses are intelligent and play a huge part in our health care system. We are not hand maidens of the doctors and most importantly we're not doctor wannabes! Nursing and medicine are different professions and should be equally respected. I chose to be a nurse not because I couldn't get into med school, but because it was the right profession for me!!! However, I'm getting so frustrated with being looked down upon by society that I'm considering leaving the profession for one that garners more respect. This makes me very sad. Does anyone else feel this way?

[buddiage]

Its not just nurses that are disrespected. School teachers are also the object of many a sex scenerio, as are even nuns. All of that can be expected at one of those parties. Pretty much anyone can be a target of sexual obsession or abuse in todays Media filled world.

Even steelers fans who were given the super bowl champs title on a plate!

I had to give you a friendly rib- I'm from Seattle

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

BTW, I've been reading the reviews for the book you recommended Marie- I'm going to get it. I've been thinking, even prior to this, of starting a website to help "get the message out." Not a man-hate thing AT ALL- but a "hey women, respect yourselves" type of thing.

And that's just it. I mean, it's not a man-hating, anti-man thing whatsoever (hence, the reason why the "Are Men Necessary" title bothered me a little, because it could be a very informative, thought-provoking book, yet i'm a afraid a few would dismiss it simply because of the title).

But it's like this: how can the women that do this sort of thing expect others to respect them if they can't respect themselves first?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

even nuns

Wonder if the nuns have people asking them to hop in bed with them though?

[Works2xs]

I don't know why, but it struck me as a laughable irony to think about a book entitled, "Are Men Necessary" in the same breath as a party featuring the reduction of male necessity to a vibrating cylinder powered by a couple of C-batteries... and then decrying the male penchant for stereotyping and objectifying women. ROFL

[buddiage]

Wonder if the nuns have people asking them to hop in bed with them though?

Yeah- I suppose someone, somewhere, has a DVD called "Nuns Gone Wild".

[buddiage]

I don't know why, but it struck me as a laughable irony to think about a book entitled, "Are Men Necessary" in the same breath as a party featuring the reduction of male necessity to a vibrating cylinder powered by a couple of C-batteries... and then decrying the male penchant for stereotyping and objectifying women. ROFL

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Well, i wouldn't consider myself a prude, and as always to each their own and such, but i just couldn't imagine "shopping" for things like that in front of a group of people i know. I'd be getting mental images of my friends that would scar me for life lol.

[rn/writer, RN]

At the risk of setting off sparks, this isn't just a women's issue. It's a people issue all the way around.

From the women who don't respect themselves enough to behave and dress with a bit of dignity to the men who don't respect themselves enough to relate to women on any meaningful level, it's all about fear and perverted pride and the loss of character and morals across the board.

There are men who don't really like this kind of slop but who feel the rabid dog posturing is expected of them. Dh has been in situations where he has said he isn't interested in checking out the local action (on work trips) or going to a strip club and some of the other guys express relief.

Maybe we need a new song.

"People.

People who use people,

are the muckiest people in the world."

My apologies to Babs.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Yeah- I suppose someone, somewhere, has a DVD called "Nuns Gone Wild".

Well, after a search because of curiousity, i don't think the DVD exists, however, apparently pictures do.

Yep, it's bedtime.

[buddiage]

Well, i wouldn't consider myself a prude, and as always to each their own and such, but i just couldn't imagine "shopping" for things like that in front of a group of people i know. I'd be getting mental images of my friends that would scar me for life lol.

Aw, come on...how about asking the hostess something like, "I'm stuck...which brand is better, Plasticpleasure or Dilbrator? Oh, is their any more 7up left?"

:lol2:

[buddiage]

At the risk of setting off sparks, this isn't just a women's issue. It's a people issue all the way around.

From the women who don't respect themselves enough to behave and dress with a bit of dignity to the men who don't respect themselves enough to relate to women on any meaningful level, it's all about fear and perverted pride and the loss of character and morals across the board.

There are men who don't really like this kind of slop but who feel the rabid dog posturing is expected of them. Dh has been in situations where he has said he isn't interested in checking out the local action (on work trips) or going to a strip club and some of the other guys express relief.

Maybe we need a new song.

"People.

People who use people,

are the muckiest people in the world."

My apologies to Babs.

Good point.

My dh has had a friend invite him to a sportsbar where scantly clad women work (and the advertising signs say, "Wanna play?"). If you are lucky, you get to witness a bikini contest or wet t-shirt contest. The fact that my husband says it isn't a big deal but "won't go because of how I feel" is a dissapointment to me.

I wish people would just respect eachother. Money is no compensation to kill someone's dignity.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Matt doesn't go to anything like that, he never really did (except once his freshman year in college) , and his reasons why is one of the things i liked about him.

The one place he went to, he said he saw the women doing a lot of things that were against the rules (only 20 bucks extra), and the men calling them **** and *****. He told me later "And i'm supposed to LIKE that sort of thing, if i buy into the typical stereotyping of men my age? To watch someone DO that sort of thing for dollar bills? Knowing that some had horrible backgrounds that landed them there, and i'm supposed to get a thrill from that?"

I think that's one of the reasons we mesh so well. We're realists. I don't go shopping for a new car because i can't afford one, so i see no point in looking at them. I see no point in going to "the male review" because i see no point in looking at something i can't have. He sees no point in going and paying to look at naked women he can't have, or wouldn't want (although apparently at that one establishment, for 20 dollars, you could).

Of course, i'm also over the whole fascination-with-naked-female thing. Probably because i've been looking at myself naked for 20 some years, and the thrill of it's just gone.