MALE DISCRIMINATION IN NURSING 1

Male Discrimination in Nursing

Jasmyne Pettus

James Madison University

MALE DISCRIMINATION IN NURSING 2

Abstract

The question I chose to research is, “Do Men in the Nursing Profession Face Discrimination?”.

The most important reason I chose this question is because it relates to the career path that I want

to go into. Another reason is because it is a current issue that many, if not all, men face in this

field. I believe researching and dissecting this topic will ultimately help me in the future by

thinking with an open mind and to not be so oblivious to things happening around me. It is a

current issue not only occurring in the United States, but in almost every country worldwide.

This topic is important to my audience because it will show how men are treated and portrayed

in a traditionally female profession.

Keywords: nursing, discrimination, male nurse

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Male Discrimination in Nursing

Currently, a shortage of nurses has come about in the United States, but the men who are

trying to become nurses are discriminated against. According to the World Health Organization,

over one million additional nurses will be needed by 2020 (2018, para. 1). The current shortage

is due to the growing population as well as the older generations aging. Over the next two

decades, approximately 25% of nurses will retire along with the rest of the Baby Boomer

generation. This will cause yet another shortage with the one currently in place. Due to this

current (and upcoming) shortage, one would think that employers would be grateful and

respectful to individuals who have a passion to care for and look after others, regardless of their

gender.

The World Health Organization noted, nurses “provide and manage personal care and

treatment, work with families and communities, and play a central part in public health” (2018,

para. 2). Anyone willing to devote their life to better the needs of others, deserves nonjudgement.

It is also important to note that in the past, the profession of nursing was viewed as solely for

women because of the maternal instinct that they possess. The significant to explore this topic

now due to the current shortage of nurses. This will show how men are treated and portrayed in a

traditionally female profession.

In the journal article, “Are Male Nurses Treated Differently?” (2016) by Ryan Mallo, Lee

Moss, and Donald Gardinier state that men are treated differently as well as are given equal

treatment. Mallo expresses his personal experience in nursing school and on the job in hospitals.

His main point is that male nurses are in fact treated differently and his purpose is to inform the

reader recounting his personal experiences. Moss’s main argument on the other hand, is that

male nurses are not treated differently. He focuses his evidence on facts and also his personal
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experience. Moss acknowledges how originally, male nurses may have been treated differently,

but now more and more men are becoming nurses, making the profession more diverse. He also

brings up the fact that certification exams and licenses there are no gender biases. Everyone is at

an equal starting salary and have the same opportunities. He argued that all nurses are judged by

their skill, knowledge, and performance rather than gender. Both authors conclude opposing

views on this issue. Mallo believes males are still treated differently in nursing and Moss,

acknowledging the gap in the beginning, believes male are given the same treatment as women

(The Journal for Nurse Practitioners).

In the article, “The Stubborn Stigma of the Male Nurse: Despite the Economic

Advantages, Men Still Stay Away from Certain Health-Care Fields”(2017), Karin Fischer

explains why men steer clear of health care professions. The men who previously lost their job in

the construction industry in Pennsylvania were frequently referred to nursing jobs. The majority

of men saw nursing as a women’s job and stubbornly wanted construction jobs. Fischer further

observed that health care professions needed college level education. These men were high

school drop outs and had a history of legal problems, so the lack of education and skill meant re-

enrolling in school to work on earning a nursing degree. Rather than going back to school, some

men opted to leave the work force all together. All of the jobs men prefer to have are dying out,

leaving the jobs of the future to women. Fischer concluded that if men continue to pick from

only a few jobs, nursing, and the entire health care field, will remain a “pink-collar” profession

(The Chronicle of Higher Education).

In the article, “Gender Discrimination and Nursing: A Literature Review” (2011),

Christiana Kouta and Charis Kaite reports some of the many ways men face discrimination and

how this could be better handled. The authors start off by giving some statistics on just how few
MALE DISCRIMINATION IN NURSING 5

male nurses there in the world and stating how the majority of women are nurses or midwives

and the majority of the males were supervisors and surgeons. Kouta and Kaite also argues that

there are not as many male nurse midwives or lactation consultants because of the rejection they

faced during maternity rotations in the hospital. The article further states that gender bias exists

due to the nursing faculties being made up of women. Kouta and Kaite conclude that nursing

education should not be different for men and women (Journal of Professional Nursing).

The articles “Are Male Nurses Treated Differently?” and “Gender Discrimination and

Nursing: A Literature Review” mostly focus of the treatment of males in nursing school. Koute

and Kaite found from a survey The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal

Nurses conducted that “42% reported gender bias from the faculty and the nursing staff” (2011,

para. 8). Having almost half of the existing males face discrimination starting in nursing school

can affect their self-confidence. Discrimination can also lead to loss of interest in nursing as a

whole. Mallo recounts during nursing school, “I remember being frequently called upon to help

turn and move patients because I was one of the few guys among the many females on the unit.”

(2016, para. 3). The example he provided demonstrates the stereotype that men are expected to

be stronger than women. Typically, males are naturally stronger than women, but women are

expected to do those same tasks. Instead of leaning on the men for help, women should come

together and get the job done. Both of these articles show how males are treated differently in

nursing school.

The articles “Are Male Nurses Treated Differently?’ and “The Stubborn Stigma of the

Male Nurse: Despite the Economic Advantages, Men Still Stay Away from Certain Health-Care

Fields” and “Gender Discrimination and Nursing: A Literature Review” touch on the topic of the

neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the maternity unit. Koute and Kaite state that male
MALE DISCRIMINATION IN NURSING 6

nurses have been “practicing for a long time in neonatal intensive care units, but when they want

to practice in obstetrics and gynecology, even if they are qualified, they are barred due to gender

bias.” (2011, para. 5). Women are probably uncomfortable because male nurses are stereotyped

as predators. Having a male nurse while being vulnerable might also contribute to the gender

preference expecting mothers express. Fischer agrees, “As a nursing student… Mr. O'Lynn

wasn't allowed to witness a childbirth during clinical rotations” (2017, para. 7). This might be

due to the stereotype that all men are violent and dangerous towards women. It is understandable

that women who are giving birth or are pregnant may be uncomfortable to have a male talk to

them about things males normally do not know too much about. On the other hand, it is safer to

have a male who is qualified with great knowledge than someone else who may have snuck their

way through nursing school.

The authors Moss and Fischer from “Are Male Nurses Treated Differently?’ and “The

Stubborn Stigma of the Male Nurse: Despite the Economic Advantages, Men Still Stay Away

from Certain Health-Care Fields” respectively, have contrasting arguments on whether or not

males are discriminated against in nursing. An individual Fischer interviewed recounts when he

“has had to call a female patient's husband to get permission to treat her” (2017, para. 34).

Patients see nursing as a female profession and many men are seen as gay or un-masculine. Male

nurses are also generalized as “potential sexual predators”(2017, para. 33). Moss argues,

“No gender bias exists in the National Council Licensure Examination or nursing certification

exams” (2016, para. 8). Official certification exams cannot discriminate on any basis, but that

does not stop patients and their families from the gender bias they express. Everyone is

inherently bias on what gender nurse or doctor they prefer. Although these two sources argue
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opposing views on the treatment of male nurses, it can be concluded that not everyone will have

the same experience.

What I learned from this inquiry is that men are often rejected from areas there are

interested in and don’t learn the same way that women do. My viewpoint has not changed from

my original thoughts. I do not think men should be discriminated against. There a shortage of

nurses and accepting the fact that some males would make out to be great nurses would probably

diminish the shortage. I plan to argue that men are treated unfairly in the upcoming web page

project. I feel as though the research I have conducted so far has been effective due to the

plethora or journal and news articles, statistics, and stories from personal experience. All but one

source supports my conclusion that males are in fact treated differently. The sources that do

support my conclusion did not influence my viewpoint, but further solidified it. Some additional

research is needed to understand some of the names of concentrations of nursing and definitions

of medical terms. To do this, I will continue to read up on this issue and look up the definitions

as I read.
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References

Fischer, K. (2017, September 1). The stubborn stigma of the male nurse: despite the economic

advantages, men still stay away from certain health-care fields. The Chronicle of Higher

Education, 64(1), A14+. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504460087/OVIC?u=viva_jmu&sid=OVIC&xid=7

3aac0cd

Gardenier, D., Mallo, R., & Moss, L. (2016). Are Male Nurses Treated Differently? The Journal

for Nurse Practitioners,12(5), 302-303. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2016.01.019

Kouta, C., & Kaite, C. P. (2011). Gender Discrimination and Nursing: Α Literature

Review. Journal of Professional Nursing,27(1), 59-63.

doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2010.10.006

Nursing and midwifery. (2018, February 27). Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/nursing-midwifery/en/