I was reading an article in a nursing journal about racism in nursing. Apparently, there are nurses associations specifically for different racial and ethnic groups.
So, would it be a good idea for White nurses to band together in this way? Is that a taboo because it's construed as being as racist or is it just that Whites don't have the need for a group identity because of their majority status? Will that be changing as the demographics of the nation change? After all, in some areas White people are a minority.
Someday we will all realize that there is just one race, and that is the human race. The human race is made up of many different cultures and ethnicities and two genders. But all that still adds up to one race.
Whites have never had to deal with the predjudices that other groups have endured. I don't care if the white person is in the 'minority' in some locations, or even if they've experienced 'reverse' racism. It's still nothing compared to what other groups have dealt with in the past, and even still today.
I have to respectfully disagree with this one.
Whites, per say, encompass a large range of ethnic groups who have been subject to predjudice. Italians, Irish and Jews were hoarded into ghettos in NY. Sweat shops were manned by minority white ethnic groups. Japanese were placed in detention camps during WWII, for no other reason than for being of Japanese decent. Polish coal minors working under slave labor conditions (black lung causing an early death and poverty for the remaining family). Eugenics & selective breeding, pioneered by a historic nursing hero...
I hate to say it; but, the US has a rich history of being a predjudicial society-for one thing/group or another. Rather than embracing the cultural/ethic/religious/lifestyle differences to add a richness to the fabric of the American culture, it has chosen to be fearful of those who aren't part of the mainstream. Where there is fear and ignorance, you find predjudice.
I think I will get off the soapbox now. Sorry for the rant.
I personaly don't see the need for it. Nurses have enough problems than to set up "ethnic" organizations which only seem to highlight problems. How about just an advocacy group for nurses as a whole to address better pay, better working conditions, etc.
As a white 40-something nurse, I say it's a big "who cares" type of thing. I work with nurses of all races and we're all just in it together, battling the same challenges and issues at work. Race somehow just isn't an issue where I work and I sure hope it doesn't become one.
The difference between most of the European groups that have been discriminated against is that in a generation they can assimilate into the dominant culture because they look pretty much like each other.
People of color never "blend."
I've never been hurt by any laws or discrimination as an upper middle class white woman. Nor by any people of color because I am who I am. Unfortunately, I am quite sure that many non-whites have not been so fortunate at our hands.
I disagree with your statement that minorities rule, being black how can you say that? I think the difference is that traditionally white-only groups have been exclusive to whites where-as ethnic-centered groups are not exclusive as you have whites in the NAACP or blacks in hispanic sororities as an example. Any group can and should form if there is a need and its not going to cause harm to others but when you get into excluding folks based on race, that's a road we should not go down again. However, if a group had a focus, say on building better relationships in the white nursing community, and a black or asian or whoever wanted to join knowing the mission of the organization, then more power to them.
Would you really want to be associated with a 'white' nurses organization. ROFL, that will make you look really good.
Even if it was a totally innocent group, the idea and perception of it would be very bad and a lot of hatred and evil would be directed your way. Not fair? Blame your ancestors...
...as long as it doesn't become a white Louis Farakkan organization.
Seriously, I know this is about racial groups. But what about the need/desire for organizations that speak for a particular group?
Pro-Life Nurses
Lesbian & Gay Nurses
International Nurses
Disabled Nurses
I don't have the answer...but I hope that no matter what the organization is, it will go by the Golden Rule. I would like to think that any group is there to help each other in the profession. Nurses from another country would benefit from the experiences of those who have already walked that road. And so on.
Some of the groups do need some help or assistance with knowing the legalities particular to their group. I don't see that as wrong. I look at it as support groups or precepting...
I think a name like European-American Nurses Association would be a more proper name. I'm pretty sure there is an African-American one and a Hispanic-American association would be in place. Anything with 'White' in front of it seems to turn heads.
I would never join anything either, miko. I was just bringing up the subject for discussion since is interesting. Reading that article spurred this thread.
Oh don't think I was saying anything against you! I think it's a good topic for discussion! I also think, like someone else said, it has the potential to get heated. I didn't want anyone to take my comments as being negative against anyone. I have no problem with a white nurses association, hispanic nurses association, alien nurses from mars association, whatever. I'll just never join anything, because I am not a "joiner".
The part of the discussion I don't like is when people bring up that 100 200 years ago, black people were slaves in this country. I know for a fact that my family is from the north and were abolitionists, but that doesn't even matter. Even if someone's great great great grandfather did own slaves, what does that have to do with the person who is alive now? How can you hold people accountable for their ancestors actions? I just think that particular arm of the argument is ludicrous.
Otherwise, people are people and if we could all just respect each other and live by the golden rule, we would be in a much, much better world.
Would you really want to be associated with a 'white' nurses organization. ROFL, that will make you look really good.
Even if it was a totally innocent group, the idea and perception of it would be very bad and a lot of hatred and evil would be directed your way. Not fair? Blame your ancestors...
Who cares about how I looked? Why assume that it, being a white group that was inclusive to all races, wasn't totally innocent, especially if they let minorities be apart of it? How is that any different then whites apart of the NAACP? I totally disagree with the way you are looking at this... What makes you think that the idea or perception would be bad. You have to think that in 50 years, white people might not be the majority of this country so if they were a minority what's wrong with them coming together to discuss ideas that are unique to them. Or what's wrong with whites who are in predominately black areas such as DC, meeting as well? And what exactly do you mean, blame your ancestors? It sounds totally disrespectful, but I don't want to assume the worst so I am asking if you could clarify.
Scratch what I said above. I believe all associations associated with a color or ethnic group of people should be removed. This is America, and we are Americans. Having associations associated with a type of people might make people feel that they're not apart just because they don't look like the certain group. I know people have posted above about whites graduating from historically black colleges and that's fine but a double-standard like that only separates us as Americans. There should just be one American Nurses Association. No one would feel left out.
I think white people have had it pretty good in this country and don't need their own association for anything.
Whites have never had to deal with the predjudices that other groups have endured. I don't care if the white person is in the 'minority' in some locations, or even if they've experienced 'reverse' racism. It's still nothing compared to what other groups have dealt with in the past, and even still today.
So, that being said....if Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, whatever...wants to have a nursing group then fine. It shouldn't be offensive to anyone.
What exactly is reverse racism? And how is it any different than any other discrimination? And you don't care? Do you care when anyone other than white are discriminated against? This typ eof attitude annoys me to no end. It seems that you are saying that white people who are discriminated against deserve it. Forgive me if I am misinterpreting you. But the "I don't care" remark is what gives me that impression.
I think whites should be able to have a white association. Why not? There is one for every other race.
And by the way...has anyone seen the recent copy of Latino Nurse? I am not Latino and I am I find that cover offensive. Shows a man and woman who look trashy and like they just climbed out of the hood. She looks slutty. It just seems that whoever designed the cover was stereotyping.
I have been discriminated against and while it does not feel good...it is a fact of life. The more groups seek to identify specifically with others of the same race exclusively, this will serve to foster further discrimination.
I disagree with your statement that minorities rule, being black how can you say that?
In some ways, they do. Who gets all the scholarships and preferred acceptance in nursing school now? Men and minorities. You try being a 20 yo white girl from a middle class family and, and just try to get financial assistance in a nursing program. I did not get a dime for my education because I didn't meet any of the criteria for any of the scholarships. I wasn't poor enough (though not rich by any stretch of the imagination - I worked my butt off to get through school), I was a chick, and I was white (still am all those things, haha!). I was on the waitlist to get into my program despite the fact that my grades were good and I had a year's experience in a hospital.
I'm not trying to say that while people have nothing and minorities rule everything, because that is not true. I'm also not saying it is unfair. But as more and more companies are striving for diversity, it does get harder for your everyday average white American to get into school, get jobs, etc. So I don't think that Vito's statement was all that far off.
OC_An Khe
1,018 Posts
Someday we will all realize that there is just one race, and that is the human race. The human race is made up of many different cultures and ethnicities and two genders. But all that still adds up to one race.