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Nurse Stereotypes

• traditionally represented as a female profession
• increase in male participation
• male nurses
  • stereotypes still strong
• gender role assignment
• misrepresentation of nurses in television
  • people don't understand or even know what the particular parts of being a nurse entails and due to misrepresentation have a warped view of the field of nursing
• resolving misrepresentations

A stereotype is a widely held and fixed notion of a specific type of person and is often oversimplified and can be offensive.^[1] Stereotypes of people and groups are harmful, especially when they lack factual information.^[2] Nursing as a profession has been stereotyped throughout history. The stereotypes given to nursing as well as women in nursing has been well documented. A common misconception is that all nurses are female; this has led to the emergence of another stereotype that male nurses are effeminate.^[3][4] These generalized perceptions of the nursing profession have aided in the misrepresentation of nurses in the media as well as the mischaracterization of nurses in the eyes of the public. The image of a nurse depicted by the media is typically of a female being over-sexualized as well as diminished intellectually. This notion is then portrayed in get-well cards, television, film and books.^[5] The over-sexualized nurse is commonly referred to as a naughty nurse and is often seen as a sex symbol or nymphomaniac.^[6][7] Along with these common stereotypes, studies have identified several other popular images used in media such as handmaiden, angel, torturer, homosexual male, alcoholic, buffoon and woman in white.^[8] Common stereotypes of nursing and portrayal of these misrepresentations have fueled a discussion on the effects they have on the profession.

History

In the 19th century and early 20th century images of nurses were mostly that of the angelic and serving female. It was later followed by images of nurses being portrayed as sexy pin-up versions of what was earlier described in other media, television and books . At this point in time, was a battle in the idea of nursing as a woman's work and also the immense training that goes with it. The idea was that nursing was a woman job due it being a part of domestic labor. The Civil War has been thought to be a turning point in this stereotype. This is because in the 1860s middle-class, white women volunteered to be aids in the war effort. These women worked in unsanitary and undersupplied conditions within medical facilities. After returning home from the war these women would contend that in order for adequate care to be given adequate knowledge had to be learned and thus formal training (Nursing Training Programs) needed to be implemented. Images seen in modern and pop culture show still sexualized ideals of nurses while attempting to dismantle the misrepresentation and go against the stereotype. Images today still show a sexualized ideal when the "sexy nurse" costume comes back every year for halloween as well as the portrayal on televisions series like Grey's Anatomy.

It has be argued that images circulating of white women participating in nursing work in the south on southern plantations takes away from the reality of slaves doing most of the everyday tasks pertaining to the health of both slaves and slave owners. However, in both instances the work is being completed by a woman. Post establishment of Nurse Training Programs, concerns became apparent relating to race and socioeconomic class. This concern was in the schools not wanting to besmirch their reputations by teaching poor women or women of color. Black medical and training facilities were established to serve the black community. This shows that while women were able to now seek education in nursing as well as jobs it created a divide within the female community due to race and class.