Why Are Male Nurses Stereotyped?

I first decided to enter the nursing field because I thought it would be easier then being a doctor.

Of course it is easier, but the responsibilities of being in the medical field are still staggering.

But after completing my first year of college, I now fully understand why I want to be a nurse. I want to be a nurse because I want to start working right away. Nursing school is a short two years, and I can start my career in a matter of 3 years. Another reason I want to be a nurse is because I also want to be a doctor. I first want to experience what it is like being a nurse, and just get experience before, hopefully getting into medical school in the future.

So right now In my life I have about a 5 year plan planned out. I will first go into nursing school, become a nurse, apply to a medical school in Chicago, and hopefully continue my studies. This is my basic outline of my life right now.

Even though I want to be a doctor/surgeon in the future, I have been jokingly been made fun of by my younger brothers, and sometimes my friends about being a nurse.

Why?

Well because I am going to be a male nurse.

I am 100% sure that I am not the only guy who has been made fun of for wanting to be a nurse. If you are a male nurse, or want to become a nurse, I'm pretty sure they first thing people will tell you is, “That’s a woman’s profession! Why would I want to do that?”


Among this first reaction from individuals, I have been researching online, and their are countless of stories, myths, and stereotypes because guys want to be, or are nurses. 


The number one thing that came up when researching male nurse stereotypes was that, men are probably gay if they are nurses.


Before I even thought about being a nurse, I had no idea that a profession you choose would determine your sexuality. It was absurd! No where in my mind did i think being a nurse was going to put a label on me or something. I thought it was perfectly normal for a guy to be a nurse, until people started saying that it was gay, and that its a women's profession. It didn't bother me. Either way, I think the stereotype comes from people's perception that nursing is a career for females and why on earth would a male want to do it. "He must be gay". 


Another stereotype I stumbled upon, was that the males that are nurses couldn't get into medical school so they settled for nursing. I think that's crazy too! 


Some common myths I found about male nurses, were that doctors treat male nurses better then female nurses, they show them more respect. Another was that men are not emotionally able to be in the nursing field. 


I just find all these myths and stereotypes amusing. It's all wrong, it doesn't apply to me at all. I believe people need to grow up and accept change. Today we live in a world where all jobs are Unisex. Women are firefighters, men are stay at home fathers, women are lawyers, police, etc. So why cant men be nurses without being judged? 


Today in the nursing field there are approximately 3 million registered nurses. Out of these 3million nurses, only 6% are men that makes up about 170,000 nurses that are men. 


Hopefully by the time I get into nursing school, these stereotypes, and views on males being nurses starts to disappear.