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Andrew Stanley
Dr. Wanda White
ENGL 1102-018
26 February 2014
ENGL 1102 Extended Inquiry Proposal
Topic/Title: Why is there a lacking of male presence in the professional field of nursing?
Thesis Statement: There are many factors as to why the professional field of nursing has been
majorly dominated by women some of which include social stigmas given to male nurses,
negative stereotypes, and the history of nursing as a feminine occupation.
Background Information/Introduction: The origin of nursing is difficult to determine but
throughout recent history its been known to be a practice whose occupants are predominately
female. Notable figures such as Florence Nightingale and Linda Richards broke the 19
th
century
trend of female exclusion in the medical profession and practiced under the title of nurse. These
driven women, along with many others, shaped the field of nursing into the female dominant
occupation it is today. Modern equality among genders has revised the face of the medical
world. Today theres an influx of women into the medical profession as doctors, while men still
arent integrating into the field of nursing.
Prior Knowledge: Many individuals tend to believe that nursing is an emasculating line of
work for men to partake in and should be left solely to women. Contrarily, there are many
aspects of the nursing field that favor individuals of greater physical strength and stature. The
job of a nurse doesnt merely consist of administering medications and monitoring patient
conditions but also consists of constant activity and physical labor. Heavy lifting, maneuvering
sizable machinery, ambulating and even restraining patients is all part of the nursing occupation.
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General Questions: In my pursuit to understanding the lack of male presence in the field of
nursing there are questions I would like to address. My questions are the following:
1. What is the current statistic on the female to male ratio in the nursing field?
2. Do men face discrimination when trying to find work as a nurse?
3. What advantages do men have over women in the field of nursing?
4. What negative stereotypes are given to male nurses?
5. Why is the field seen as emasculating?
6. Are there physical preferences when it comes to hiring a nurse?
7. What challenges do male nurses face in the professional scene?
8. Is there a difference in pay between female and male nurses?
9. Do male nurses have to work harder to maintain their jobs?
Primary Questions: In adjustment to acquiring feasible research in a specified timeframe my
primary questions are the following:
1. What is the current statistic on the female to male ratio in the nursing field?
2. What advantages do men have over women in the field of nursing?
3. What challenges do male nurses face in the professional scene?
Possible Sources: In acquiring research on this topic, some possible sources could include peer-
reviewed journals and scholarly articles discussing the field of nursing and its prevalence as a
female dominated occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics could also be a great source for
uncovering statistical information about the profession. Face to face interviews with individuals
of the profession could also provide some insight into the world of nursing and the benefits or
disadvantages of being a male in the nursing field. Finally any accredited website with viable
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information on the subject of male exclusion in the nursing occupation could be used as a
potential source.
Anticipated Problems: There are three problems that I am anticipating during this extended
inquiry project. One problem is disregarding my own personal beliefs on the subject and
providing a purely factual, non-argumentative, paper. Another issue I might face is the lack of
statistical evidence on the sub components of my research. For example, I currently can only
express word of mouth the negative stereotypes given to male nurses; Ive yet to discover written
statistical evidence of its existence. The final issue I might face is solely following the three
primary research questions when all the questions listed are of extreme interest to me.