Gender diversity is very important in the nursing profession, which requires taking into consideration the cultural demands of all patients. In the UAE, as in other parts of the world, the majority of nursing staff are women. In the UAE, male nurses make up less than 8 per cent of the overall nursing total. The number is growing, and that's healthy, but how do we encourage more men into the profession?
The traditional stereotype that nursing is a profession for women because they are naturally better at nurturing can make men think twice before considering the occupation. Generally speaking, men face a stigma when entering female-identified professions and risk having their gender identity being questioned by society. In many cases, negative criticism from the public over their “feminine” choice could force them out of the profession.
The problem cannot be addressed without a cultural shift. As gender expectations have changed when it comes to women entering traditionally male-dominated fields, the same should happen to men entering culturally perceived “feminine” professions. Getting more men to enter the nursing sector will not only enhance diversity but will also address the growing demand for more nurses.
On the other hand, it’s good to see many women managing to break stereotypes and become specialised doctors, a profession that was traditionally male-dominated. Female medical students at local universities, for example, outnumber their male classmates by five to one. But the problem mainly lies in retaining these doctors in a job that requires working antisocial hours.
Many women who qualify as doctors later face challenges to balance their career and family responsibilities and eventually leave the profession. These women – perhaps even more than many other professional women – need flexible hours, part-time work options, workplace nurseries and longer maternity leave provisions to help them juggle their duties. There needs to be more than one career path, for both men and women.
