Gender bias

Published

I mentioned this on another thread, but thought it deserved its own.

I am finishing off my prereqs. next semester and have gotten all A's. I got a bit nervous watching some Youtube stuff about prenursing students who got perfect grades still not getting in because of limited space. So I called my advisor.

Very nice lady, she said I shouldn't have anything to worry about (most anyone who gets a 3.2 or higher gets in at my school), and my grades were great. What she said next made me mad though.

"Also, because you are male and older you have a better chance of getting in"

That is such garbage. I have been working hard to get good grades and do not require some quota system to give me any benefit I have not earned. It is insulting. I would say something but I think making a stink about it would cause them not to let me in so that they would cover their own butts in case I made a stink about it.

In something as important as the medical field they need to take this quota garbage out of the equation.

Don't make a big deal about it because ultimately, you do want to get in. And you deserve to get in with those grades. So don't do anything that will jeopardize that. Does it suck that some woman out there with the same grades as another man might not get in because of this gender bias? Yes. But you would have made it in anyway, so great job on the awesome grades and continue to work your butt off in nursing school!

Sad but true. In spite of the fact that you likely deserve to get in, you may still be propped up as a token male.

Reminds me of my minority friends who went to med school; more often than not, they felt as though people underestimated their abilities and qualifications because it was assumed they were 'affirmative action choices.'

Thing is, we do need guys in nursing. I think our profession benefits from the diverse qualities and perspectives that men bring to the table. But we ought to change the culture by recruiting guys and changing the reputation of nursing as a predominantly female profession, not by lower standards for certain applicants (IMHO). Like you said, it's medical; lives are at stake!

If it offers any consolation: In my program, there were some amazing, sharp, motivated guys, and some 'token' meat-heads. The meat-heads struggled and flunked out. The hard working guys landed some of the best new grad positions in our class, almost exclusively ED and ICU slots; most are headed directly to NP and CRNA school.

Keep at it, do your best, and work to change those stereotypes. Many of the most accomplished nurses I've met (CNOs, directors, researchers) are outstanding male nurses.

Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

I don't see why this would tick any guy off? Yeah, sure, it's a bias and puts us at an advantage; however, if people are willing to do that for you, why not take it as an opportunity rather than advantage? I would whole-heartedly accept those comments and/or benefits these "quotas" would provide. To move up these days is not solely based on "hard work" alone like it was in the past.

No matter what your opinion on the subject at hand, or any other potentially controversial subject, best to follow the basic tenet of political correctness that says you keep your mouth shut if you agree and if you don't agree. You don't want to place any targets on your back or front for being opinionated and vocal. Right or wrong, nursing school can have a lot of politics in play. Best to stay under the radar if you want to graduate with little to no problems.

I don't see why this would tick any guy off? Yeah, sure, it's a bias and puts us at an advantage; however, if people are willing to do that for you, why not take it as an opportunity rather than advantage? I would whole-heartedly accept those comments and/or benefits these "quotas" would provide. To move up these days is not solely based on "hard work" alone like it was in the past.

I think he's upset because it minimizes his accomplishments. He worked really hard for wonderful grades and then found out they care more about his gender than how hard he worked. At least that's how it came across to me.

OP, take advantage of being a male now, don't worry, it all evens itself out in the end, just wait and see if you ever seek a maternity position LOL

Specializes in critical care.
I think he's upset because it minimizes his accomplishments. He worked really hard for wonderful grades and then found out they care more about his gender than how hard he worked. At least that's how it came across to me.

This is why it would bother me, too. I'm a big believer in "the best should win" when it comes to stuff like this. Recently I had a similar conversation about police. I want the best qualified to come to my 911 call, not the one who boosts their diversity numbers. If the best is a 4'9" woman from Djibouti, I'm totally okay with that.

I transferred in a 3.9 GPA when I was accepted to nursing school, but know I was accepted because I was local, over 30 and have kids (their primary, and almost only, demographic is 20-22 year old white females whose residency is hours away). I just stick with the thought that my grades were well above the accepted average and my Hesi score was a 95, 13% higher than the average.

You know your 4.0 would have gotten you in without the gender bias. Have pride in that. When you walk the stage with high honors, YOU will have earned that, and gender bias can't and won't take that accomplishment away from you.

Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

First off it makes no difference for getting into school. Second you are going to hear a lot of "stuff" in nursing school. It makes no difference.

If you think you are guaranteed to get into nursing school for any reason then you are wrong. As far as male getting in...do you have actual evidence of a quota? Or a statement by someone who may or may not have any idea what they are talking about.

You are assuming something is true based on a statement. If you see actual EVIDENCE then you can use that. Good lesson before you begin nursing school. If you call a doctor at 3am you better not say "I heard that.." You need to provide both quantitative and qualitative evidence.

If you are applying to nursing school go by the stated requirements from the actual admissions department. There are no guarantees in nursing school. I worked at a University and never once did I hear of "quotas" or anyone accepted because they are a certain age. However I am not stating that as a FACT. It is anecdotal and what I observed. Nothing more.

There is actual gender bias towards males in nursing. Google the studies if you don't believe it. But there's no quota. It isn't codified, it's just an extension of our paternalistic society.

I didn't "hear it through the grapevine" or see it on 60 minutes. The Nursing student advisor told me that me being male and older would make a difference. I can't think of any more "from the horse's mouth" than that. Whether it states I am looked upon favorably for admission and they give me "X" set advantage, or that they can merely read that my name is male isn't the point. She said there was a bias.

And before you say "Well, the advisor wouldn't know what she is talking about". Who would than in your estimation? I honestly don't know who makes the final call on this type of thing. I do think that a student nursing advisor would have more knowledge of the process than most.

I have no worries about getting into nursing school because I am kicking but and getting great grades.

I agree with you though on the anecdotal part. Maybe this is just my school that is like this and it is different depending on where you are.

If you think you are guaranteed to get into nursing school for any reason then you are wrong.

I understand there are no guarantees in life, but why would you say this? I get good grades, have RL work experience and have a previous degree. She told me a 3.2 GPA would get you in most of the time (male or female).

If you got from my post that I meant me being male insured me of anything that was not what I was implying. I meant advantage, not sure thing or guarantee. I would hope to god they would not ever grab anybody off the street and make them anything in any profession based solely off their gender.

+ Join the Discussion