Lesley University DigitalCommons@Lesley Educational Studies Dissertations Graduate School of Education (GSOE) 2016 Men in a female-dominated profession: The lived experiences of Ghanaian male nurses in the United States Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong Lesley University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/education_dissertations Part of the Education Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Nursing Commons, and the Race and Ethnicity Commons Recommended Citation Frimpong, Daniel Kwadjo, "Men in a female-dominated profession: The lived experiences of Ghanaian male nurses in the United States" (2016). Educational Studies Dissertations. 5. https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/education_dissertations/5 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School of Education (GSOE) at DigitalCommons@Lesley. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Lesley. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MEN IN A FEMALE-DOMINATED PROFESSION: THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF GHANAIAN MALE NURSES IN THE UNITED STATES By Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the graduate school of education In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Lesley University March 30, 2016 Copyright © Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong 2016 All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT Minority men are less than two percent of the total nursing workforce in the United States. The small presence of minority men in the nursing profession presents a challenge to healthcare providers as patients are much more responsive and open-minded to healthcare providers of the same cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This qualitative study was designed to explore the lived professional experiences of Ghanaian male nurses in the United States to shed light on the barriers minority men encounter in the nursing profession in order to make suggestions relating to strategies to appropriately support minority men in their nursing practice. This study utilized a purposeful sample of 10 Ghanaian male nurses (six interviewees and four focus group participants) from the New York City metropolitan area. Data were collected from three sources including in-depth interviews, a focus group interview, and participants’ diaries. The interviews were conducted in both English and Twi-- a Ghanaian local dialect. The interviews were translated, transcribed, and coded manually using Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenological approach to develop common themes describing the shared lived experiences of Ghanaian male nurses in the United States. Seven themes were identified: a) separateness; b) discrimination; c) job security and benefits; d) career opportunities; e) gender-based stereotypes; f) caring through spirituality; and g) glass (d)escalator. Despite the challenges and barriers encountered, the participants expressed satisfaction for their career choice because of job security and career opportunities afforded them in the nursing profession. Recommendations offered to minority male iii nurses, hospitals, and other stakeholders of healthcare relate to targeting the support and retention of minority men in the nursing profession. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am not sure there are enough words of thanks to express my deepest gratitude to my senior advisor, Dr. Frank Trocco, who has been an invaluable friend and mentor. Dr. Trocco, thank you for your excellent guidance and patience with my growth as a scholar. I would also like to thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Marjorie Jones and Dr. Judith Dyer for their constructive feedback, and encouragement; their varied perspectives and expertise in adult learning, cultural studies, and nursing education have greatly improved my dissertation. In addition, I am truly grateful to Dr. Barbara Nadeau, for the countless hours she spent editing and proofreading my dissertation for me; Barbara, I am happy to know you. I am thankful to my sons, nephews, nieces, and siblings especially Akosua Pinaman, for her love, prayers, and good wishes; Pinaman, you mean so much to me. To my late mother Abena Appeah, this is for you. I can’t thank you enough; your love for me was infinite. Maame, you sacrificed your life to see me smile. It’s unfortunate you are not here to see me graduate. You will forever remain in my heart. Rest in perfect peace! Finally, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my wife, Afua Foriwaa Frimpong; your consistent encouragement, sacrifices, and loving support have enabled me to achieve my dreams. I love you! v Table of Contents ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... V CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Background of the Study .................................................................................................... 2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 6 Methodological Approach .................................................................................................. 6 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................... 7 Delimitations and Limitations of the Study ...................................................................... 10 Ghanaian Immigrants in the United States ....................................................................... 10 Ghana: A brief history, location, people, and culture ................................................... 11 Major Tribes and their Languages ................................................................................ 12 Customs and Cultural Values ........................................................................................ 13 Family Values ............................................................................................................... 14 Respect for Elders and Moral Values ........................................................................... 15 Religion and Religious Values ...................................................................................... 15 Assumptions of the Study ................................................................................................. 16 Role of Researcher ............................................................................................................ 17 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 20 History of Men in Nursing ................................................................................................ 21 Feminine Image of Nursing .............................................................................................. 24 Gender Bias ....................................................................................................................... 25 Gender-based Barriers in Nursing ................................................................................ 28 Sexuality and Sexual Stereotypes in Nursing ................................................................... 31 vi Social Isolation in Nursing ................................................................................................ 34 Role Strain in Nursing ...................................................................................................... 34 Glass Escalator .............................................................................................................. 37 Job Security and Career Opportunities ............................................................................. 39 The Impact of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture of Minority Male Nurses on their Profession ........................................................................................................................................... 41 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 44 Critical Race Theory ..................................................................................................... 45 McClusky’s Theory of Margin ..................................................................................... 47 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 53 Research Methods ............................................................................................................. 54 Study Sample .................................................................................................................... 56 Brief Biographies of the Participants ...........................................................................