Stereotyping Male Nurses

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2013

Because generally, men who are nurses were gay. It's only recently changed within the last twenty or so years where there's now a pretty even ratio of straight to gay men. I don't know where you're getting the idea that men can't be loving and caring. All of my patients have loved me, and even more so than a lot of my female counterparts.

El_blanco · Oct 24, 2013

I just started nursing school and I get teased every once in a while, but I don't care. I'm not gay and I don't have anything against gay men in the field. My grandmother was a nurse and I loved being around the hospital environment. I think it's good to have men in the field. It tends to give some balance to the profession. I'm glad to be a part of it now!

SaoirseRN · Oct 24, 2013

I think people can be loving and caring, or sometimes they aren't -- both men and women.

The thought that all women are loving and caring is as much of a stereotype as saying that men aren't.

I know some awesome, caring nurses who also happen to be men. My suggestion for you is to prove the stereotypes wrong.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 24, 2013

Full disclosure: Old Bat here - of the female variety.

I disagree with the "male nurses were gay until ~ 20 years ago"...... ludicrous and simply NOT TRUE. That is the ultimate stereotype (irony, huh?). Just about every nation has a long history of male Military medical providers - called by various names, but essentially performed nursing duties. Nurses in the French Foreign Legion (yes, it still exists) are and always have been male. In more distant times, there were many male religious groups that provided nursing care. In the US, the Alexian Brothers (male nurses) founded an entire hospital system (Alexian Brothers // Early History of the Alexian Brothers)

I'm older than dirt & have worked with male nurses throughout my career (primarily in ICU & EmerDept). Sure, I guess some of them may have been gay, but most were just ordinary guys - with wife & kiddos - gender is a non-issue. I've worked with several married couple duos; many worked opposite days to ensure child care coverage. One of the absolute best nurse managers I have ever worked with was a guy who established some wonderful innovations in his Level III nursery.

I'm not saying that you don't have to deal with negative stereotyping, but sexual preference should not be the most significant. Instead, you need to take action to prevent yourself being used as a human lifting device. Don't let anyone take advantage of you in that way - back injuries are a very real consequence.

We love ya!

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2013

Yeah, you know gays back in the day were married with wives because it was essentially illegal to be out, right? Just saying.

I know there were heterosexual men in nursing way before then, too. But, there was definitely a higher ratio of gay to straight.

Luminosity · Oct 25, 2013

Sorry Stephen, but I really can't see where you get that idea from. For all I know you may be right, but my gut feeling is that this is just your own mis-guided / mis-informed take on "history". I think it's more a change in public perception not the demographics.

BostonRN13 · Oct 25, 2013

I think there's some truth to what Stephen is saying. In my 14 years as an RN I've known a disproportionate number of gay male nurses compared to the straight male nurses I've met.. Not that that means anything. Strong straight males still have the capability to be caring and sexual preference shouldn't matter...

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2013

See now I'm the opposite...I have worked with a disproportionate amount of straight males....at least I think they were....maybe it's the area of specialty.

I don't think those in the profession make the discernment nor do they care.....the public I think is coming around.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2013

Full disclosure: Old Bat here - of the female variety.
I disagree with the "male nurses were gay until ~ 20 years ago"...... ludicrous and simply NOT TRUE. That is the ultimate stereotype (irony, huh?). Just about every nation has a long history of male Military medical providers - called by various names, but essentially performed nursing duties. Nurses in the French Foreign Legion (yes, it still exists) are and always have been male. In more distant times, there were many male religious groups that provided nursing care. In the US, the Alexian Brothers (male nurses) founded an entire hospital system (Alexian Brothers // Early History of the Alexian Brothers)
I'm older than dirt & have worked with male nurses throughout my career (primarily in ICU & EmerDept). Sure, I guess some of them may have been gay, but most were just ordinary guys - with wife & kiddos - gender is a non-issue. I've worked with several married couple duos; many worked opposite days to ensure child care coverage. One of the absolute best nurse managers I have ever worked with was a guy who established some wonderful innovations in his Level III nursery.
I'm not saying that you don't have to deal with negative stereotyping, but sexual preference should not be the most significant. Instead, you need to take action to prevent yourself being used as a human lifting device. Don't let anyone take advantage of you in that way - back injuries are a very real consequence.
We love ya!

THIS THIS THIS^^^^^^^^

fetch, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2013

Three things of note: when a profession is dominated by women, that profession becomes subconsciously accepted by society as "women's work." (Nursing, teaching, secretaries, telephone operators, flight attendant, etc). Media portrays only women doing these roles, new advances in technology are advertised towards women, toys that reflect that profession become marketed exclusively towards girls, and all of that causes girls to be socialized to think it's a respected profession for them as women. Therefore many women who feel a desire to work in these fields find the way smoother, and are successful at them. They don't have to fall back on a second choice as often because the societal pressures are working with them, not against them. When men choose that profession in small numbers, they become perceived by society to also have other "women's" characteristics - many of which are also seen as gay stereotypes (you mentioned being caring, but also caring about one's appearance, speaking in higher voices, dressing carefully, etc). Male nurses are therefore stereotyped as gay because they "must" be like women, why else would they want to be in a women's profession?

Second - there might be a self-selecting bias going on. If male nurses are perceived to be primarily gay, and you are a young gay man who wants a profession where you won't be attacked by your co-workers, you might feel compelled towards nursing. Whereas a straight man might want to be a nurse but could feel societal pressure (from family, religious group, girlfriends, even other nurses) to NOT choose that profession because he will be seen as gay. These two things work together, and you've got more gay men seeking training as nurses and more straight men purposefully choosing alternate professions, and suddenly the stereotype feels like truth.

Third - studies have shown that when a group has 20-30% of a minority, the majority will perceive it as more like 50%. So, for example, a TV show has 7 male main characters and 3 female main characters, and many people watching will "feel" like there are just as many women. A class that has 20 white students and 10 black students may "feel" to the white students like there are mostly black students. And a nursing cohort of 10 straight men and 3 gay men may be perceived as "mostly gay guys." You might be surprised if you actually count what the number of gay male nurses are.

bryan_del, ADN, MSN · Oct 25, 2013

when they call you gay then tell them how much you make and that will shut them up