Male Nurses' Experience of Gender Stereotyping Over the Past Five
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Molloy College DigitalCommons@Molloy Theses & Dissertations 5-2019 Male Nurses’ Experience Of Gender Stereotyping Over The Past Five Decades: A Narrative Approach Michael W. Finnegan Molloy College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/etd Part of the Nursing Commons This Dissertation has All Rights Reserved. DigitalCommons@Molloy Feedback Recommended Citation Finnegan, Michael W., "Male Nurses’ Experience Of Gender Stereotyping Over The Past Five Decades: A Narrative Approach" (2019). Theses & Dissertations. 76. https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/etd/76 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Molloy. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Molloy. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Molloy College The Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing PhD in Nursing Program MALE NURSES’ EXPERIENCE OF GENDER STEREOTYPING OVER THE PAST FIVE DECADES: A NARRATIVE APPROACH a dissertation by MICHAEL W. FINNEGAN Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2019 © Copyright by MICHAEL W. FINNEGAN All Rights Reserved 2019 i Abstract Negative stereotyping of men in nursing has been a chronic problem that has a direct effect on males and detracts from efforts to recruit and retain them. At this time in American history (2018), traditionally male-dominated professions are making significant progress toward the goal of a gender-balanced workplace. However, the opposite is not true. Traditionally female-dominated professions are not attracting or appealing to men. In the nursing profession, the number of male nurses is relatively small and has remained relatively fixed over time. Estimates vary between 6-15 percent, with the current average being approximately 11 percent (American Nurses Association, 2014). The aim of this qualitative narrative study is to explore the perception of stereotyping by male nurses over time and to ascertain if there has been a change in the male’s perception of the phenomenon. To this end, the research question is as follows: What are the effects of stereotyping on the perceptions of male nurses from the years 1970 through 2017? The purpose of this qualitative exploratory narrative analysis is to examine the phenomena of male nurse stereotyping as experienced by men in nursing within the context of time. Using a narrative approach, a snowball sample of male nurses was applied. The nurses related their personal recollections and experiences of being a male in a female-dominated profession. Each interview used a narrative approach to elicit the stories from the participant’s career progression. Participants were specifically recruited from careers that spanned five decades. The men were asked to focus on what was occurring in society from their point of entry into the profession and to compare it to 2019. The selection of participants was divided into ten-year increments starting from 1970-1979 and ending in 2017 (seven-year increment for the last group). Three men were interviewed from 1970-79, 1980-89, and 2010-2017 cohorts; four men were from the 1990-1999 and 2000-2009 cohort. A total of seventeen nurses were interviewed. ii The interviews were recorded and transcribed. A narrative analysis using Catherine Riessman’s (1993) method of thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns of the lived personal positive and negative experiences of male nurses. This study was conducted to determine if the perception of gender bias and stereotyping for males has changed over time. Although present in each of the decades, there was some variation. Regardless of the decade analyzed, the effect of stereotyping varied from male to male. As an example, in some of the participants from the older cohorts, bias was not perceived at all whereas, in some of the younger participants it was. There were two notable findings. First, as time went on, there were fewer vocalizations of stereotyping, and when it did occur, it was often in the form of “joking or teasing.” Most of the men agreed that gender bias and stereotyping has become less of an issue or not a factor at all. Secondly, some of the issues that the men spoke of have a historical connection to the literature on male nurse stereotyping. These issues were echoed in the interviews of the men in this study. Some of the issues revealed have more significance than others. Some of the more serious issues include males feeling inadequate or fearful in caring for females, particularly younger females. Male treatment by faculty or staff during their obstetrical rotations was an issue for the older cohorts more than the younger ones. Males being asked to lift and move patients more often than their female colleagues occurred across the continuum. Males were considered professionally misplaced, often asked, “Why are you not a doctor?” Some unanticipated findings were in regard to the male’s female colleagues. The men vocalize their observation of biases against female nurses, noting how providers often spoke differently (negatively) toward female nurses. Furthermore, men were often assumed to be in charge because of their gender and traditional societal gender roles, which could be advantageous. iii Dedication I am dedicating this dissertation to my wife Eileen who has been the major support person in my life. Without her support, encouragement, and selflessness, this dissertation would not have happened. What can you say to someone who constantly places your needs, your dreams, and ambitions before their own? It is simply not enough to say I love you and I thank you. I am a success not for achieving a PhD, which is a wonderful achievement, but it is to be fortunate enough to find a person to share unconditional love. iv Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge my dissertation team Dr. Denise Walsh, Dr. Geraldine Cornell, and Dr. Geraldine Moore for all the support, direction, and unfailing encouragement for which I am most grateful. To Dr. Rose Schecter and Dr. Veronica Feeg who both played crucial roles in my professional growth as a nursing educator and of a nurse scientist. Also Dr. Maureen Moulder who as my advisor was always there to support and encourage me; she is truly a hero. Finally, I am grateful to my friend Dr. Keith Weiner, for his help and support on this journey. v Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Phenomenon ........................................................................................ 3 Background of the Problem ............................................................................................ 3 The History of American Nursing (1600’s-1700’s) ........................................................ 4 Education and Preparation of Nurses .......................................................................... 7 Nursing (1800-1900) ....................................................................................................... 7 Social Conditions ........................................................................................................ 9 Education and Preparation of Nurses .......................................................................... 9 Licensing and Regulation ........................................................................................... 9 Important Dates/Events for Nursing (1800-1900) ........................................................ 10 Nursing (1900-1920) ......................................................................................................11 Social Conditions .......................................................................................................11 Education and Preparation of Nurses ........................................................................ 13 Licensing and Regulation ......................................................................................... 14 Important Dates and Events for Nursing (1900-1920) ................................................. 14 Nursing (1920-1940) ..................................................................................................... 15 vi Social Conditions ...................................................................................................... 15 Education and Preparation of Nurses ........................................................................ 16 Licensing and Regulation ......................................................................................... 17 Important Dates and Events for Nursing (1920-1940) ................................................. 18 Nursing (1940-1960) ..................................................................................................... 18 Social Conditions .....................................................................................................