Journals / Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2

Gender Views on Being a Woman and a Man in the Nursing Profession: A Qualitative Study in the Context of Tokenism

Hemşirelik Mesleğinde Kadın ve Erkek Olmaya İlişkin Cinsiyet Görüşleri: Tokenizm Bağlamında Nitel Bir Araştırma

Nurşah Tatoğlu(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-4914-3806
Vacide Ancın(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-2716-2010
Ayşe Karadaş(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3955-2980
Mehmet Gülşen(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6168-8676
Pages
229–245
Publication Date
2026-08-21
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Within the tokenism framework, disadvantages and advantages coexist, offering insights that may guide gender equality policies in nursing.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study aimed to explore gender perspectives on being a woman or a man in the nursing profession within the context of tokenism.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Data were collected between January-May 2025 through 30-45 minute in depth individual interviews with 15 nurses (12 men, three women).
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Within the tokenism framework, disadvantages and advantages coexist, offering insights that may guide gender equality policies in nursing.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Cinsiyet · Hemşirelik · Tokenizm

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore gender perspectives on being a woman or a man in the nursing profession within the context of tokenism. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was used in the study. Data were collected between January-May 2025 through 30-45 minute in depth individual interviews with 15 nurses (12 men, three women). The examination of views on being a woman and a man in the nursing profession was evaluated within the context of tokenism. A Semi-structured form was used in the interviews and data were analysed with MAXQDA Pro 2020. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) Advantages of the nursing profession (women–men), (2) Disadvantages of the nursing profession (women–men), and (3) Gender perspectives on nursing (integrative–divisive). These themes encompassed six subthemes and 22 codes. Nurses generally stated that male nurses were at a disadvantage in terms of discrimination, prejudice, inequality and increased workload, yet they also perceived certain advantages of the profession in favour of men. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that both female and male nurses experience similarities as well as differences in the profession. Within the tokenism framework, disadvantages and advantages coexist, offering insights that may guide gender equality policies in nursing.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışma, tokenizm bağlamında hemşirelik mesleğinde kadın veya erkek olmaya ilişkin cinsiyet bakış açılarını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntem: Çalışmada betimsel fenomenolojik desen kullanılmıştır. Veriler, Ocak-Mayıs 2025 tarihleri arasında 15 hemşire (12 erkek, üç kadın) ile 30-45 dakikalık derinlemesine bireysel görüşmeler yoluyla toplanmıştır. Hemşirelik mesleğinde kadın ve erkek olmaya ilişkin görüşlerin incelenmesi, tokenizm bağlamında değerlendirilmiştir. Görüşmelerde yarı yapılandırılmış bir form kullanılmış ve veriler MAXQDA Pro 2020 kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Üç ana tema belirlendi: (1) Hemşirelik mesleğinin avantajları (kadın-erkek), (2) Hemşirelik mesleğinin dezavantajları (kadın-erkek) ve (3) Hemşireliğe ilişkin cinsiyet bakış açıları (bütünleştirici-ayrıştırıcı). Bu temalar altı alt temayı ve 22 kodu kapsamaktadır. Hemşireler genel olarak erkek hemşirelerin ayrımcılık, önyargı, eşitsizlik ve artan iş yükü açısından dezavantajlı olduğunu ifade etmiş, ancak mesleğin erkekler lehine bazı avantajlarını da algılamışlardır. Sonuç: Çalışma hem kadın hem de erkek hemşirelerin meslekte hem benzerlikler hem de farklılıklar yaşadığını göstermektedir. Tokenizm çerçevesinde, dezavantajlar ve avantajlar bir arada bulunmakta ve hemşirelikte toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği politikalarına rehberlik edebilecek içgörüler sunmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Tatoğlu, N., Ancın, V., Karadaş, A., Gülşen, M. (2026). Gender Views on Being a Woman and a Man in the Nursing Profession: A Qualitative Study in the Context of Tokenism. Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 229–245. https://doi.org/10.54189/hbd.1801935

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (28)

  1. Alanka D. (2024). Nitel bir araştırma yöntemi olarak içerik analizi: Teorik bir çerçeve. Kronotop İletişim Dergisi, 1(1), 64-84.
  2. ALobaid AM, Gosling CM, Khasawneh E, McKenna L, Williams B. (2020). Challenges faced by female healthcare professionals in the workforce: A scoping review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 13, 681-691. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S254922
  3. Andrews ME, Stewart NJ, Morgan DG, D’arcy C. (2012). More alike than different: A comparison of male and female RNs in rural and remote Canada. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(4), 561-570. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01195.x
  4. Blackley LS, Morda R, Gill PR. (2019). Stressors and rewards experienced by men in nursing: A qualitative study. Nursing Forum, 54(4), 690-697. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12397
  5. Bradshaw C, Atkinson S, Doody O. (2017). Using a qualitative descriptive approach in health care research. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 4, 2333393617742282. doi:10.1177/2333393617742282
  6. Buchan J, Catton H. (2020). COVID-19 and the international supply of nurses: Report for the International Council of Nurses. International Council of Nurses.
  7. Creswell JW. (2020). Nitel araştırma yöntemleri: Beş yaklaşıma göre nitel araştırma ve araştırma deseni. M. Bütün, S. B. Demir (Ed). (Trans., 3rd ed.). İstanbul: Siyasal Kitabevi. (Original work published 2013).
  8. Floge L, Merrill DM. (1986). Tokenism reconsidered: Male nurses and female physicians in a hospital setting. Social Forces, 64(4), 925-47. doi: 10.2307/2578787
  9. Heikes EJ. (1991). When men are the minority: The case of men in nursing. Sociological Quarterly, 32(3), 389-401. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4120914
  10. Kanter RM. (1977). Some effects of proportions on group life: Skewed sex ratios and responses to token women. The American Journal of Sociology, 82(5), 965-90. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2777808
  11. Kearns T, Mahon P. (2021). How to attain gender equality in nursing-an essay. BMJ, 373:n1232. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1232
  12. Kurt Yılmaz B, Sürgevil O. (2020). Cinsiyete dayalı tokenizm: Kadın egemen ve erkek egemen meslekler üzerinde nitel bir araştırma. Istanbul Management Journal, 88, 85-125. doi:10.26650/imj.2020.88.0004
  13. Mackintosh C. (1997). A historical study of men in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(2), 232-236. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997026232.x
  14. Mao A, Cheong PL, Van IK, Tam HL. (2021). “I am called girl, but that doesn’t matter”-Perspectives of male nurses regarding gender-related advantages and disadvantages in professional development. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 24. doi:10.1186/s12912-021-00539-w
  15. Marshall C, Rossman GB. (2016). Designing qualitative research (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  16. Namey E, Guest G, McKenna K, Chen M. (2016). Evaluating bang for the buck: A cost-effectiveness comparison between individual interviews and focus groups based on thematic saturation levels. American Journal of Evaluation, 37(3), 425-440. doi: 10.1177/1098214016630406
  17. Ng M, See C, Ignacio J. (2024). Qualitative systematic review: The lived experiences of males in the nursing profession on gender discrimination encounters. International Nursing Review, 71(3), 468-483. doi:10.1111/inr.12921
  18. Rabie T, Rossouw L, Machobane BF. (2021). Exploring occupational gender-role stereotypes of male nurses: A South African study. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 27(3), e12890. doi:10.1111/ijn.12890
  19. Santos MH, Amâncio L. (2019). Gender and nursing in Portugal: The focus on men's double status of dominant and dominated. International Journal of Iberian Studies, 32(3), 159-172. doi:10.1386/ijis_00003_1
  20. Schmidt NA, Brown JM. (2015). Evidence-based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application of research. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  21. Sığrı Ü. (2021). Nitel araştırma yöntemleri (2. baskı). İstanbul: Beta. Simon J, Burstein P. (1985). Basic research methods in social sciences (3rd ed). New York: Random House.
  22. Smith BW, Rojo J, Everett B, Montayre J, Sierra J, Salamonson Y. (2021). Professional success of men in the nursing workforce: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(8), 2470-2488. doi:10.1111/jonm.13445
  23. T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. (2025). Sağlık İstatistikleri Yıllığı 2024. https://dosyamerkez.saglik.gov.tr/Eklenti/52859/0/siy2024tr31122025pdf.pdf
  24. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. (2007). Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19(6), 349-357. doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzm042
  25. Twomey JC, Meadus R. (2016). Men nurses in Atlantic Canada: Career choice, barriers, and satisfaction. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 24(1), 77-88. doi:10.1177/1060826515624414
  26. Yıldırım A, Şimşek H. (2016). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (11. baskı). Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
  27. Whittock M, Leonard L. (2003). Stepping outside the stereotype. A pilot study of the motivations and experiences of males in the nursing profession. Journal of Nursing Management, 11(4), 242-249. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2834.2003.00379.x
  28. Williams CL. (1995). Still a man’s world: Men who do ‘women’s work’, London: University of California Press. doi: 10.1525/9780520915220