Young women, and societal expectations/professional strangleholds

[Guttercat]

I am an "old" nurse, and also a returning student.

Many of my classmates are just kids-- around twenty years old. I am currently retaking a couple of science classes, and my project partners in one class are young ladies pursuing a nursing degree.

A discussion I had with them in class today got me thinking. Has anything really changed in the last twenty years? I see "me" in them some twenty years ago, thinking I had to be a nurse because it was a natural progression as a CNA, I loved biological sciences and medicine, and the world (society) told me that as a young woman trying to make my own way in the world, nursing was my best chance at job security.

A couple of them are absolute whizzes at higher math, and love math/technology. One is not so keen on biological sciences, but can knock out a stats course with her eyes closed. Really? It's fairly rare to find people that can knock out stats like they're brushing their teeth. The other one thinks Algebra/calculus/trig is a cake walk, and loves and lives for anything math. Her heart is in math.

I asked them why then, are trying to get into the nursing program when their hearts lie elsewhere, and the job market for nurses is currently engineered to provide a nursing surplus?

I cannot remember being encouraged to do anything else with my knack for biological science and medicine...except for one dear anaesthesiologist in my surgical rotation who, point blank, asked me "Why don't you go to med school?"

Why didn't I? I don't know. I suppose, like them, I was a wide-eyed young woman, and unsure of my place in the world.

As I discussed the need and possibilites for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics) fields, I saw little glimmers of realization in their faces.

I let them know nursing is not easy, and that they will not only have to think hard and have some degree of medical expertise , but they will be so while running mach-ten on their feet for hours on end.

Just thinkin'.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Another thought - when I was a teacher, most of the teachers I worked with had spouses who made more money than they did. This allowed them to have a pretty nice standard of living and still be a teacher. Teachers aren't paid very well (even worse if you teach in a parochial school), so that may be part of the reason why men don't consider it as often. I know this is a societal construct, but women may feel more comfortable with the idea that their spouse will have the higher paying job. The men I taught with were also mostly coaches - that was their main reason for being teachers! My husband is adjunct faculty at a university, and he made about the same amount of money as I did teaching. I got tired of being poor after working so very hard for so many hours!

I've appreciated the posts you've shared. Thanks.

As to this post, it reminded me of a term I've heard more than once...as to the teaching and nursing professions being also known as "Appliance Professions." Meaning, a person entering into the profession is not the primary wage earner.

I find it more than coincidental that both these professions are historically (and currently) female dominated.

Even though we currently have nearly equal females-to-male ratios entering into STEM sciences, or law, the ladies, according to the US Bureau of the Census (2009), are still earning only 78% of their male counterparts in the "same occupation" market.

Not only that, but the women may hit a glass ceiling, whereas their male counterparts are much more likely to be put on a glass escalator in the same postition/role.

So, while some folks here have daughters that are lucky to be on the receiving end of parents that encourage them to pursue all avenues and interests (nursing or otherwise) despite deeply ingrained gender social constructs, those girls will still have a tougher time of it in terms of advancement opportunity and earnings. There's something deeply ingrained in our collective, social conscience that values balls over ovaries. That may be a discussion for another day, though.

In the meantime, we can call it what is is: Instutionalized Sexism.