Interesting article on the "New Masculinity" and it does mention nursing

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2010

I just finished reading an article on Newsweek titled: "Why we need to reimagine Masculinity". http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/20/why-we-need-to-reimagine-masculinity.html Its a fairly decent read and does talk about Nursing at several points throughout the piece including a part about Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents". There have been a few threads here recently that discuss how we men deal with what is a female dominated career and I think this article has enough salient points to make it worth the time spent (maybe 10 minutes).
My own feelings on the gist of the article is that we men are more stereotyped than just about any other group and that we all pretty much accept it as our own truth. We define ourselves more on what we do than who we are. I know I can work on a car or build a deck as good as the next guy, but I'm also a fairly good cook and don't care for football. As for my future as a Nurse, I'm just getting comfortable with that and would like to think I'm secure enough in my own skin to not shy away from letting strangers know that is my goal.
So if you have a few minutes, read the article and let us know what you think.

I haven't had much contact with the people I graduated high school with in the last ten years, but I've found out in the last month or so that at least a dozen guys I new back in school have changed their jobs and gone to nursing school. I think I'm the only dude that already had a degree, but it seems pretty common now.

I can build a deck, I'm called a good cook as well, but with regards to working on a car I'm lost. I don't know and really don't care. It'd be good to know, but it's not something I want to fool around with. I like college football a lot, like to shooting guns as a hobby, and am changing careers from law enforcement which there's nothing feminine about. What others think about me and my job is irrelevant to me at this point in life. Five years ago I entertained the idea of a paramedic to RN program, but I don't think I was psychologically ready for it then because I too labeled it as feminine then. I still have issues with "caring" since I'm not at all a nurturing guy, and am more interested in the field from a "treatment" perspective than what it really is.

Oh, and yeah ten years ago, I used to make fun of a buddy of mine in college because he was a nursing major, lol.

2ndyearstudent, CNA · Sep 25, 2010

I just finished reading an article on Newsweek titled: "Why we need to reimagine Masculinity". http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/20/why-we-need-to-reimagine-masculinity.html Its a fairly decent read and does talk about Nursing at several points throughout the piece including a part about Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents". .

When I decided to change careers to nursing, I steeled myself a bit for the "Meet the Parents" like crap I might run into. I haven't run into any. Not at all. In fact, I haven't run into any gender-based issues or problems.

As far as the article goes, I find as I get older I really don't care what other people think my role should be. It has been quite liberating.

I cook, I golf, I work on my car, I fix computers. I can't build a deck worth a crap, but I know who can. I never make my bed, I rarely dust.

I also hold the hands of dying and recovering patients. I listen to them vent their frustrations. I answer their questions. I cheer their victories and I try to provide comfort and encouragement when they feel defeated. I clean them up, I get them up and I put them to bed. I administer their suppositories, their enemas, and their meds.

I like this profession. I like the human caring side and I like the technical challenging side. What someone might think of me doing this as a male is outside of my control or concern.