Mainstreaming gender in female dominated occupations : what are men’s experiences of the nursing profession?

M.A. (Sociology)Abstract: Through the campaign for gender equality, it has become clear that patriarchy is the philosophy that privileges men and discriminates against women. As such, the campaign for gender equality mainly focuses on empowering women because they are overwhelmingly affected by gender inequality. Women are the most stricken by poverty, unemployment and lack of resources. Men on the other hand dominate the labour market and hold the highest positions in various organisations and political platforms. However, due to other factors like race, class and age that intersect with gender, this gender privilege is not shared equally among men. Again, men are underrepresented in care sectors like nursing. This study was inspired by the fact that much effort has been made in the democratic era to change constitutional laws and organizational policies to achieve gender equality in South Africa. Nevertheless, gender stratification persists in the labour market. Men as well as women dominate specific professions. The nursing profession is one of the sectors that is still gendered and dominated by women. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the lived experiences of male nurses, why they chose to pursue a career in the nursing profession and ways in which gender influenced their experience. Intersectionality is the theoretical framework that underpins this study as it acknowledges that gender inequality is experienced differently among men and women due to other social factors that intersect with gender. The study used the qualitative research method to investigate the lived experiences of male nurses. Through purposive and snowball, sampling methods six participants were identified to participate in the study through in-depth face-to-face interview. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic content analysis method was used to analyse data by identifying and extracting relevant themes emerging from the data. Study findings indicate that there are several factors which motivate men to become nurses. Some of which are; change in gender ideology, the presence of role models, the willingness to help those in need and to change people’s lives; family support and life circumstances. The study suggests that male nurses undergo a gendered experience throughout their training and clinical work. This is because male and female nurses construct or gender each other as they do their work through a two-sided motion of gendering practices and doing gender. These gendering practices and the doing of gender cloud the judgment of competence between male and female nurses and hence affect their working experiences. Outside the workplace, gender identity for male nurses is also affected as they are accorded stereotypes such as gay for pursuing a career in a profession which is traditionally considered to be feminine..