Feminism and Nursing: An Historical Perspective on Power, Status, and Political Activism in the Nursing Profession

by Thetis M. Group, Joan Roberts

Overview

This book examines nursing's feminist consciousness as the profession has developed and evolved over time. The interrelationship between the status of nursing and the status of women in patriarchal society is analyzed. Nursing's struggle to overcome its oppression and gain increased autonomy and political power is considered from an historical perspective. Early leaders in the profession, such as Florence Nightingale, Lavinia Dock, and Lillian Wald, are analyzed with regard to their social reform, political, and feminist activities. Nursing's support for the Equal Rights Amendment and its role in the women's movement that reemerged in the 1960s is examined in light of the profession's ambivalence to feminist issues. The last 20 years show that the profession has become actively aware of important issues such as pay equity and equal job opportunity and that nursing has become more cognizant and supportive of feminist goals on a variety of issues. This work provides a comprehensive review of the history of the nursing profession while simultaneously instructing in new paradigms of thought relative to provision of healthcare and human services by women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275951207
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/21/1995
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.89(d)

About the Author

JOAN I. ROBERTS, social psychologist, is Professor Emerita of Child, Family, and Community Studies at Syracuse University. A pioneer in Women's Studies in higher education, she is the author of numerous books and articles on gender issues, discrimination, the anthropology of education, and problems in urban education.

THETIS M. GROUP is Professor Emerita of Nursing at Syracuse University where she was dean of the School of Nursing for 10 years. She has published numerous articles in professional nursing jourbanals.

Table of Contents

Introduction
"Awake Ye Women,…Awake!" Perspectives on Florence Nightingale
Nursing Leaders as Activists and Feminists
The Paradox: Nurses as Healers in "Men's Horrible Wars"
The Lively Debate: Nurses and Suffrage, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Social Reform
"What We May Become": The Sounds of Transition
The Turbaning Point: Nurses Connect with the Women's Movement
Poking Heads Out of Their Apolitical Bonnets: Nurses Zero in on Gender, Power, and Leadership in the 1970s
"Ride the White Horse Yourself!" Women's Culture, Feminism, and Nursing in the 1980s
Where Will Nurses' Militancy Lead?
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Barbara Parker, RN, PhD, FAAN (University of Virginia)
Description: The book provides an in-depth overview of the relationship between nursing and the women's movement. The authors have offered a thorough analysis of the profession of nursing from a historical perspective, while incorporating the issues of sexism and women's roles throughout.
Purpose: The book has eight very ambitious objectives primarily related to changing the perspective of nurses regarding their history and professional image. This is a needed addition to currently available resources both for the professional growth of our members, and to provide students with a broader perspective of our past, present, and future.
Audience: Although not specified by the authors, the book would be an excellent text for an elective for upper-level undergraduate or graduate students. It could also be used for "bridge" courses or courses on the profession of nursing. It is very easy to read, and also would be a useful resource for all professionals.
Features: There are no pictures or illustrations. As a reader, I always appreciate pictures of the people being discussed so that I can feel like I know them as individuals. The index is quite comprehensive regarding individuals. However, there were limited index entries regarding issues, institutions, or nursing specialties. This would have been a helpful feature.
Assessment: This is a thoroughly documented, thoughtful analysis of the profession of nursing with a historical and current perspective. The book itself is not physically appealing and I had a hard time picking it up. It was so well written, however, that I had an equally hard time putting it down. Features that were especially well done include the historical analysis, the roles of African American nurses, the issues of women in "men's wars," the importance of non-sexist language, and the roles of professional organizations.

Doody's Review Service

4 Stars! from Doody

The book provides an in-depth overview of the relationship between nursing and the women's movement. The authors have offered a thorough analysis of the profession of nursing from a historical perspective, while incorporating the issues of sexism and women's roles throughout. The book has eight very ambitious objectives primarily related to changing the perspective of nurses regarding their history and professional image. This is a needed addition to currently available resources both for the professional growth of our members, and to provide students with a broader perspective of our past, present, and future. Although not specified by the authors, the book would be an excellent text for an elective for upper-level undergraduate or graduate students. It could also be used for ^^bridge^^ courses or courses on the profession of nursing. It is very easy to read, and also would be a useful resource for all professionals. There are no pictures or illustrations. As a reader, I always appreciate pictures of the people being discussed so that I can feel like I know them as individuals. The index is quite comprehensive regarding individuals. However, there were limited index entries regarding issues, institutions, or nursing specialties. This would have been a helpful feature. This is a thoroughly documented, thoughtful analysis of the profession of nursing with a historical and current perspective. The book itself is not physically appealing and I had a hard time picking it up. It was so well written, however, that I had an equally hard time putting it down. Features that were especially well done include the historical analysis, the roles of African American nurses, the issues ofwomen in ^^men's wars,^^ the importance of non-sexist language, and the roles of professional organizations.

Barbara Parker

Much attention has been paid to women in traditionally male professions, but less to the impact of feminism where women were already dominant. Scholars of nursing and women's studies combine to trace the roots of feminism in nursing from Florence Nightingale through the 1980s, discussing the struggle to raise the status of caregiving in society and the medical professions, and the cultural disjunction between professional and gender roles as well as other dimensions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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