Why are nurses sexualized?

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Oct 9, 2016

Very valid and interesting answers here already. Something I haven't seen addressed yet is simply the massive role change working women have had in recent times. It wasn't that long ago that "respectable" women simply did not work outside the home. A nurse, a teacher or a secretary were among the very few careers a woman could have and still be able to hold her head high in "respectable" society. Add to that many women that entered the work force were only there long enough to land a husband. Since these young women that entered nursing were for the most part expected to be there looking for a man of course they were sexualized and looked at as potential partners. Maybe something in that man hunting stereotype is still carrying over enough to make the "naughty nurse" such a popular fantasy.

AutumnApple · Oct 9, 2016

I'm wondering where the stereotype of "naughty nurse" or "sexy nurse" came from.
Is it because nursing is a stereotypical woman's job, and women's jobs are, in general, sexualized in the media?
Is it because before nursing was a profession, it was considered an ill-reputed job by women who couldn't do anything else, and bracketed under the same umbrella as "prostitution"? (Apparently).
Just wondering why this is such a stereotype.

Nursing was, in the beginning, the right of a man and a man alone. Women who attempted to perform care for any patient were punished harshly.

The role of the woman was much like that of what we would consider housekeeping and dietary staff now.

The churches and small homes used for providing healthcare became too busy, so women were then allowed to oversee more duties, some of which involved delivering direct patient care. But this was done only under direct supervision, kind of like how we have set up the doctor-nurse relation now.

In some clinics (most likely not so much in the churches) yes, one duty that was performed was to.............hmph...........make sure certain select patients (the paying ones I would assume) had sexual needs met.

The thought process was, if the patient was "distracted" by this need, the body wouldn't focus on healing.

AutumnApple · Oct 9, 2016

Because women are sexualized. Men are sexualized within their professions: Doctors, police, fire fighters.

Yes. Men are just as sexualized. But no one cares. I am, of course, all for women being treated equally but in this case, we seem a tad bit over sensitive.

Anyone ever have a friend who was a male dancer (for strip clubs)? I knew someone who did that (believe it or not, his full time job WAS plumber) and he had some stories to tell. Male dancers get treated like dirt, as the norm. If women dancers got that kind of treatment, we'd be beside ourselves. But it just goes on unnoticed for the male dancers.

Maybe the problem isn't that we are oversensitive about how women are sexualized. Maybe it's that we aren't sensitive enough about how men are as well.

I don't see that they are more than anything else is. There are "sexy" maids, pirates, school-girls, lions, bumble-bees, etc. It doesn't even have to be human to be turned into something sexual.

Bumble-bees? lol

No. Women of ill-repute did not become nurses. Perhaps you should read up on the history of nurses. The very first nurses were men, then women took over. These women had very stringent rules and were not allowed to be married. They dedicated their lives to nursing, only being allowed to leave for church and sleep.
Women I guess, who were considered to be old maids and not eligible to marry became nurses, but not prostitutes. I'm curious as to where this info came from?
Im guessing that back in the day, since these were unmarried women, men fantascized about them. It probably took off from there. Married men want what they can't have. Thus, the huge divorce rate in our society.

So nice to see that others are aware of this part of nursing's history.

Back in that time, the health "clinics" were churches or small homes. The ones that were in small homes did expect this service to be offered by some of the female staff.

Libby1987 · Oct 9, 2016

I'm reminded of when I graduated at 22 in 1987. In a Nun owned/ran affluent hospital where I was a boy crazy soft hearted young woman required to wear white dresses and hosiery taking care of male patients how could I not be sexualized, or at least not endeared?

For years afterwards, I can't say that I was necessarily sexualized but it was pretty natural for males to become endeared to a female being kind and caring to them in their vulnerable states. Human nature in my opinion.

I did have one rather coorifice long term individual who asked if he could buy me a nurse's outfit to wear for him on Halloween. I asked him, "Do you want me replaced with Nurse Rachet from there on out." His reaction was priceless, he never brought it up again and was most respectful in the years following before his recent death. It didn't bother me a bit, he was having a boy moment and I didn't begrudge him that, I just shut it down without needlessly embarrassing him.

DeeAngel · Oct 9, 2016

I don't see that they are more than anything else is. There are "sexy" maids, pirates, school-girls, lions, bumble-bees, etc. It doesn't even have to be human to be turned into something sexual.

The stale, outdated "naughty nurse" was around for a long time before any of the other costumes you mention were sexualized.

DoGoodThenGo · Oct 9, 2016

The stale, outdated "naughty nurse" was around for a long time before any of the other costumes you mention were sexualized.

Exactly!

There is a reason why many schools of old and or hospitals forbade in writing nurses from appearing anywhere in uniform without written permission. It is also one of the reasons many programs/places maintained strict control (as much as they could) over who got hold of their caps.

Going back at least to the 1960's or 1970's nurses uniforms and caps go flying out of stores around Halloween.

Back in the late 1980's there was a horrible television show about a group of young nurses called "Nightingales". Very little nursing went on but the girls spent much of the time lounging around in their undergarments, and or various entanglements with the male sex. It was close to "Carry On Nurse" as an American television series came IMHO. Happily this time the program was an equal offender of not just nurses but those who supported the profession. Via protests and treats of boycotts the show got pulled.

Nightingales (U.S. TV series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Nightingales (1989-- ) TV Series - YouTube

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2016

Though this isn't the most academically written article, it has a very interesting history of how nurses got their sexy stereotype. History of the Sexy Nurse - Thrillist

There was something very poignant towards the end that I would like to share:

"....but our personal analysis concludes that long after the nurses' original roots in the world of prostitution were shed, the erotic nurses most likely began as a way for male patients to cope with feelings of helplessness and the self-consciousness of their masculinity being threatened by a woman in a position of power."

And Rule 34 applied to the real world long before the innerwebz came into existence.

DatMurse · Oct 9, 2016

there are "sexy" everything nowadays. female cops, female batman, male cops, etc.

I honestly wouldnt overthink it as something targetting nurses but society.

kakamegamama · Oct 9, 2016

Not my understanding. I followed Dorothea Dix and she had very high standards for her nurses.

As late as the Vietnam War nurses were seen in a negative light by some people. After all, why wouldn't a woman want to join the military and be around all those men. it certainly couldn't be because they actually wanted to help/heal/serve their country, could it? (Not my belief at all). I'm not saying nurses were camp followers....many gave their lives in different wars protecting and caring for the men, both injured and diseased. But, they were seen that way by some, throughout history.

MunoRN, RN · Oct 9, 2016

No. Women of ill-repute did not become nurses.

Actually; Project retrains prostitutes as care workers for elderly people

Perhaps you should read up on the history of nurses. The very first nurses were men, then women took over. These women had very stringent rules and were not allowed to be married. They dedicated their lives to nursing, only being allowed to leave for church and sleep.
Women I guess, who were considered to be old maids and not eligible to marry became nurses, but not prostitutes. I'm curious as to where this info came from?

While nursing practice is much different than back then, the lineage of our role does contain an era where nurses and prostitutes were considered interchangeable, it wasn't unheard of for women to do both. A more colorful description of this part of our history:

At that time, nursing was seen as the very lowest of vocations. Most nurses were alcoholics; they were permitted and were expected to drink alcohol while they worked. Many of them were also prostitutes. It was customary for young women of low social class to look to a life of prostitution and nursing, with the consumption of large amounts of alcohol to make the other two occupations seem a little more bearable. The average nurse when Florence was a young woman would think nothing of combining her three occupational interests in a single night; she would sit watching over her patient and sipping her gin, and if her patient was well enough and had the money, extra services could be provided.

Florence Nightingale

As for the current sexualization of nurses, it would seem more related to being a majority female profession, since similar references exist for the "sexy librarian" and "sexy teacher" (or so I've been told anyway).

Vacationtime247 · Oct 10, 2016

I'm sexy and I know it! :woot:

VT247

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2016

Now realizing that my nursing history class was valuable. I would hate to be in a profession and not know its roots.