The Role of Feminism in Nursing History

2846 Words6 Pages

Nursing as a profession has faced many barriers over the centuries. One of the most defining barriers discussed in regard to the historical experience of nurses is the effects of its being considered, and for the most part being, work done by women. In evaluating nursing history it is necessary therefore to evaluate the ways in which society has evolved over time in terms of its views on the roles of nurses of women within the society and its institutions. In the U.S., the inception of nursing both as an occupation and later as a profession, has strong ties to the challenge of women's perceived role as a wife and mother whose sphere was solely domestic. In many ways, significant progress has been made from that time in what women and nurses are able to do within society. However, the interplay between nursing and the Feminist movements which paralleled its development as a profession was far from being mutually respectful and supportive. In fact, in spite of the influence of prominent nursing leaders as supporters of women's suffrage, nurses were either unconcerned or actively avoiding involvement in women's rights. Feminism meanwhile, in its later endeavors, developed a poor perception of nursing due to its ingrained status as a stereotypical female occupation. The relationship of nursing and Feminism being so close while at the same time noticeably antagonistic in many ways has had profound effects on the profession and its modern-day challenges.

When nursing first achieved a name for itself it was not common to see anyone, never mind a woman, working as nurse. In this respect, the participation of female volunteers in the American Civil War was a first for both women and nurses. Female volunteers' participation in ...

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