The Evolution of the Nursing Uniform and Gender Roles

The nursing field is a microcosm of gender inequality in the workplace. For example, although women make up over 90% of the professional nursing workforce, they still get paid $0.91 cents to the dollar a male nurse makes. But pushing for greater equality has proven difficult, in part because of the way nurses are viewed. From “sexy nurse” Halloween costumes to angelic depictions of the classic “caretaker”, perception of nurses capabilities are significantly impacted by traditional gender roles. The evolution of nursing uniforms infographic from Nursing@Simmons below isn’t just about nurses; it’s also a visual history of the women’s workplace revolution and healthcare disruption in the United States. As gender and fashion norms evolved for women, so too did their roles in American society. Nurses have transitioned from assistants in impractical dresses to primary care providers with the same scope of practice (and uniform) as physicians in many states, modernizing their role in healthcare and their appearance, step by step and decade by decade, approaching gender equality.

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - March 14, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Nurses Source Type: blogs