Is nurse education sexist? An exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Health
• Gender Studies
• Higher Education Research

Background:

• Sexism and gender discrimination are pervasive issues in academic and professional settings.
• Understanding student perceptions is crucial for addressing systemic inequalities.
• Nursing, a female-dominated profession, faces unique challenges regarding gender dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of perceived sexism and gender discrimination among university students.
• To compare perceptions between nursing and non-nursing students.
• To identify specific demographic groups experiencing higher levels of discrimination.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional population survey was conducted.
• A web-based survey instrument was used to collect data from 221 Australian university students.
• Perceptions of sexism and gender discrimination were examined across academic programs.

Main Results:

• Students perceived sexism and gender discrimination across various programs.
• Male students reported higher levels of perceived discrimination than female students.
• Nursing students, particularly males, reported significantly higher perceptions of sexism and discrimination compared to non-nursing students.

Conclusions:

• Perceptions of sexism and discrimination are significant issues within university programs, especially nursing.
• Findings suggest potential barriers to male recruitment and retention in nursing.
• Addressing these perceptions is vital for nursing workforce development and addressing international nurse shortages.