Sadly Gay Male Nurse Stereotype is Not Just Trolls

btw, what's a high femme?
urban dictionary stated contextually, that it's a gay woman who dresses/acts like a girly girl (my words).
is that what a high femme is?

leslie

What I don't understand is why people---especially teenagers and twentysomethings---use "gay" to describe something that is uncool. My son---who has been taught that homophobia is WRONG---one time described his math class as "gay." EXCUSE ME? :angryfire Barbie once said that math class is tough, but how can it be homosexual? So does that mean the math class only dates other math classes like algebra or calculus and not the history or English classes?

I hear so many people using the word "gay" in the same way they used to use the cringe-worthy word "retarded". Also wrong! :angryfire Yet how many people would say something is "retarded" and not feel it was a slur against those who were developmentally disabled? I don't even like hearing someone say something is stupid---yet I find myself saying that on occasion (usually in reference to an inanimate object like a car or a computer.)

Maybe the use of the word "gay" as slang to denote uncool---like against math class---is done out of ignorance more than out of malice. Still totally wrong---and my son knows the next time he says that he's going to hear my spiel ALL OVER AGAIN because he knows better than to put down anyone. :angryfire

Sticks and stones can break our bones but words do wield tremendous power---to hurt as well as to heal.

Thanks for moving the thread, VLV!

You know what shocks me most about this conversation, is that in a class of 80, we have 2 openly gay males, and at least 10 times that many openly heterosexual nurses. For the life of me, I can't see why it should matter, as long as boundaries are respected, and quality care is delivered. Of course, there will be some patients who will request another nurse, but that goes for the ESL nurses, the African-American nurses, and the foreign nurses as well, and it is to the detrement of the patient that their ignorance does not allow them to see past the race, color, or orientation of that person. For example, in our class, one of our openly gay males is one I would absolutely trust with my life in a hairy situation. He is that cool, composed, and knowledgable. So, again, ignorance in America is the #1 problem we are facing, the #2 problem being that there is no acknowledgement of the fact that the ignorance is a problem. I was raised in a religion that taught that homosexuality was a sin, yet when I first met a homosexual person decades ago, I couldn't help but see the wonderful gifts and attributes this person had to give to the world, in spite of my religious upbringing.

I don't understand, and never will, the hatred that brings someone to kill another because they are different. I say the more male nurses the better, sexual orientation notwithstanding. They are competent, smart, fun, and every bit as deserving of the opportunitieis as everyone else who wants to be a nurse.

I have also noticed a few of the hetero males in our class mentioning that they took harassment from others saying "why don't you just go to medical school?" Well, these people don't understand that nursing offers more opportunities, better and different patheways to get to different jobs, and overall, is just a more flexible career option. Plus, there is the patient interaction, which none of them would trade for anything--they are all wonderful.

I try to explain this, as I am a female, but still get the "but you're so smart--you should have gone to medical school" I try to tell them that brains have nothing to do with it, it is what you want out of life, and the type of career you want-patient-focused with lots of patient interaction, or lots of responsibility but little contact. Many people don't get this, taking their medical career info from TV shows. Well, they deserve what they get.

Any male who goes into nursing is smarter than any male who goes into medicine, in my opinion--more career opportunities, more career flexibility, and lots of respect from the women, because lord knows we need some Y chromosomes to delete the estrogen!

I am all for males in nursing. I wish there were more, and I advocate to anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest about the perks, the various career paths, the flexibility, and the many, many things you can do with a nursing degree, as well as the graduate programs to pursue.

GO XY!!!!!!!Those who give you trouble are just compensating for their own insecurities about their own penis size and/or sexual orientation. Just my opinion after lots of years of dealing with men with SPS (short penis syndrome), and the IMNG (I'm Not Gay- really) syndrome.

Go men, don't let the losers stand in your way. The profession needs you to bring us to order, bring us a common voice and a common purpose, so that we can organize ourselves for better working conditions, standardized working conditions, etc. Without you, there's just too much estrogen, and no offence to my fellow sisters, we just need the cool, detached decision-making of a male to help us in these times of change!

I realized I just focused on homosexual males, but the same goes for homosexual females--should make no difference. I would be proud to work by any competent homosexual nurse, female, male, transgender, etc. The focus is on competency and work ethic. Personally, I could care less about your personal predilicetions, as long as they are not illegal (child molestation, for example), and as long as they don't interfere with your job, and you are happy. I consider you all my friends, colleagues, and am proud to know you.

Thanks for reading,

A Pro-Gay Mormon nurse

If you look at the history of nursing, all nurses were male until the 1500-1600's Only when women started to dominate nursing did thos hateful belief in male nurses being subhuman begin. Also, pink was a male color because it was the most flattering on the male and was close to red which was regal and masculine. Blue was a feminine color the represented virginity and purity. Notice that all of the paintings of the virgin Mary she is wearing blue. Not pink. The blue/male phenomenon began in the 20th century with most likely superman and his blue leotard as the inspiration. The desire from boys to wear blue changed the perception of masc and fem colors. and the dominant influence of women in nursing pushed men out of the field to the point that when men started seeing nursing as lucrative it had become taboo for men. It's insane that any prof ession would ever be considered masc or fem. gay or straight. It's stupid esecially concidering that nursing is no longer a profession that's only based on being an asst to a DR. or acting as a nurturer. It's highly technical requiring intellect and critical thinking. It's a science. Something that many prospective nurses don't realize until they are in a nursing program. There were several students in my class who failed out because they didn't take the reality of nursing being a scientific profession seriously. Even after all of the sci. prerq. They thought that once they got into the nursing program they didn't have to think scientificaly anymore.

Personally I don't care what your sexual preference or the color of your skin as long as it is not green, if your taking care of me or my friend.

Sorry I meant green/ill not green color....LOL