MALE nurses

[klone]

Why is it that whenever someone tells a story about a nurse, who happened to be a man (or a man, who happens to be a nurse), they always say "He's a MALE nurse" (and they always put emphasis on MALE)?

"Yeah, so I was talking to my brother-in-law the other day - he's a MALE nurse - and he was telling me about his great health insurance."

These are always in conversations where his profession is only tangentially related to the conversation, and his gender is not at all related to the conversation (and is completely obvious when you continually refer to him as HE!!).

It's almost like there are two classifications: nurses, and Malenurses (like it's one word).

The only other time I've noticed that people feel the need to put the gender in front of the profession is when they're talking about prostitutes. MALE prostitutes, as opposed to run-of-the-mill female prostitutes.

So what's up with that?

[live4today, RN]

......................that's why i personally don't get the 'african american' thing. i know many black people (skin color, that is) that are not of african descent. i look very irish, and don't have a hint of irish blood. so i'd rather be described as white than irish american (because i'm not).................................i hear black (or african americans) describe people as light skin or dark skin.

i don't get it either! i've even talked with africans from africa who are (or were) in america to obtain their college degrees who don't get the "african american" thing either. they don't understand why americans call the black race of people in america "african americans".

only in america do some americans find the need to still "classify" people with descriptive titles. germans in germany are called germans. puerto ricans in puerto rico are called puerto ricans. swedes in sweden are called swedens. chinese in china are called chinese -- and so forth. but...come to america and your descriptive title changes to: german-american, latin american, asian american, african-american (only this title is abused and used to classify alllllllll black people whether they are africans from africa, or blacks from america...go figure that one out).

i am part irish, part dutch, part cherokee, part mohawk, and part "unknown african roots" that cannot be traced to any tribe or specific location -- better known as "lost roots"??? :stone so for many years as a child, i grew up identifying myself as a "mixed mutt" -- nothing "purebred" about me.:chuckle

americans are "so sensitive" i guess to what "descriptive term" people are going to "classify" them as. we just can't be satisfied being "plain old americans in america" can we.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Cheerful - great post. I agree with you.

steph

[hospitalstaph]

Hi. My husband is Italian and I am shocked that a few of his family members will talk about those "stupid blonde headed peckerwoods" while I am sitting right there! Yes I am blonde and not Italian. I am swedish and a few other things thrown in for fun:) People just kill me:)

Tracy

[live4today, RN]

cheerful - great post. i agree with you.

steph

thank you stevielynn! :)

and while i'm on the topic of "descriptive classifications", when that time of year rolls around for us to fill out those stupid census forms -- [color=#483d8b]not to mention those forms we fill out when applying for employment in our country -- i'm tired of checking "other"! actually, i'm tired of filling out those discriminatory forms period!

[color=#483d8b]i check "other" because of the way my race is grouped with being african -- ie... "african-american/black".

[color=#483d8b]sometimes i check native amercan, and sometimes for the heck of it, i'll check "native american, white, and other", then circle the word "black" crossing out the african-american part.

[color=#483d8b]why is it that in order for native americans to check their listed category they have to know their tribe, and be able to prove it, but....hang in there with me.......but...black people get grouped with "african-american/black" and (this is my beef right here) ........and, don't have to prove what tribe they come from???????????????? :stone

[color=#483d8b]guess you all can tell how peeved off i get when this topic is discussed.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Only in America do some Americans find the need to still "classify" people with descriptive titles. Germans in Germany are called Germans. Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are called Puerto Ricans. Swedes in Sweden are called Swedens. Chinese in China are called Chinese -- and so forth. BUT...come to America and your descriptive title changes to: German-American, Latin American, Asian American, African-American (only this title is abused and used to classify ALLLLLLLLL Black People whether they are Africans from Africa, or Blacks from America...go figure that one out).

I'm with you there, i haven't figured that one out.

And if i were list myself as (list countries of descent here)-American, it would be a mile long. And probably leaving a few places out by mistake.

[caligirl]

i don't get it either! i've even talked with africans from africa who are (or were) in america to obtain their college degrees who don't get the "african american" thing either. they don't understand why americans call the black race of people in america "african americans".

only in america do some americans find the need to still "classify" people with descriptive titles. germans in germany are called germans. puerto ricans in puerto rico are called puerto ricans. swedes in sweden are called swedens. chinese in china are called chinese -- and so forth. but...come to america and your descriptive title changes to: german-american, latin american, asian american, african-american (only this title is abused and used to classify alllllllll black people whether they are africans from africa, or blacks from america...go figure that one out).

i am part irish, part dutch, part cherokee, part mohawk, and part "unknown african roots" that cannot be traced to any tribe or specific location -- better known as "lost roots"??? :stone so for many years as a child, i grew up identifying myself as a "mixed mutt" -- nothing "purebred" about me.:chuckle

americans are "so sensitive" i guess to what "descriptive term" people are going to "classify" them as. we just can't be satisfied being "plain old americans in america" can we.

personally.. i like to be described as "mexican american" because that is what i am. my husband is puerto rican so he likes to be described as puerto rican. we are both hispanic with similar cultures but still they are different in their own ways. we are both proud of our cultures and embrace them so no.. we don't like to be "just" be called "american." i also do not call every black person african american or every hispanic "mexican." maybe it is just from growing up in the melting pot of southern california.. i knew lots of panamanian black people and cuban hispanics and the list goes on and on.. you know what i mean.. i usually ask what ethnicity a person is because i am very interested in learning about cultures..

[danu3]

Why is it that whenever someone tells a story about a nurse, who happened to be a man (or a man, who happens to be a nurse), they always say "He's a MALE nurse" (and they always put emphasis on MALE)?

"Yeah, so I was talking to my brother-in-law the other day - he's a MALE nurse - and he was telling me about his great health insurance."

These are always in conversations where his profession is only tangentially related to the conversation, and his gender is not at all related to the conversation (and is completely obvious when you continually refer to him as HE!!).

I

When I tell my friends I am going to nursing school, some of them went "you are going to be a male nurse?" My response (got the idea on this site in some thread I forget where...) is usually "You have no idea how hard it is to be a female nurse... I tried and I alsways fail the physical exams..."

But I know they mean well as I am lucky that all of my friends encourage me to pursue this field.

-Dan

[live4today, RN]

marie_lpn........i just luv your signature line! :)

"support bacteria. it's the only culture some people have." :rotfl:

[live4today, RN]

When I tell my friends I am going to nursing school, some of them went "you are going to be a male nurse?" My response.........is usually "You have no idea how hard it is to be a female nurse... I tried and I alsways fail the physical exams..." -Dan

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[talaxandra]

When I tell my friends I am going to nursing school, some of them went "you are going to be a male nurse?" My response (got the idea on this site in some thread I forget where...) is usually "You have no idea how hard it is to be a female nurse... I tried and I alsways fail the physical exams..."

I looove that! Good work, Dan :)

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

[color=#483d8b]i check "other" because of the way my race is grouped with being african -- ie... "african-american/black".

[color=#483d8b]sometimes i check native amercan, and sometimes for the heck of it, i'll check "native american, white, and other", then circle the word "black" crossing out the african-american part.

boy, you really keep them guessing, don't you???

i don't blame you for being annoyed by this. i recently worked with a resident who was from south africa, and was white. i jokingly said (not in front of her, but in front of some black co-workers), 'does this make her african american'? they didn't get it.

the whole classification thing is such a 'taught' behavior, just like racism. my daughter, who is almost 5, sees everyone the same. the only thing she may say is a kid looks like someone (like on tv, either an asian or hispanic person). never would she say he's black or brown or whatever. she actually classifies people by what color shirt they are wearing. and of course, boys are starting to be icky!!! :chuckle

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Seriously, wouldn't that make her African-American even if she is white and from South Africa??