<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Historically, female nurse leaders endeavoured to make nursing a profession by establishing nursing organisations that could act as agents of change. They were hampered by sociocultural notions of gender: men dominating society, politics, and the economy. Nurses therefore needed positive working relationships with male leaders. In South Africa, such gender dynamics led to the South African Nursing Association (SANA), being influenced by a political system, that is, apartheid, which had dire consequences for the profession. This article illustrates that historically the emerging nursing profession was intimately connected with a changing society: female nurses strove for economic and professional independence but were confined by a male-dominated (medical) society. South African female nurse leaders never openly challenged the political status quo. It is recommended that current South African nursing organisations advocate for gender equality and clarify how they can foster a health-care environment in which gender diversity is the norm.</p></abstract>

Historically, female nurse leaders endeavoured to make nursing a profession by establishing nursing organisations that could act as agents of change. They were hampered by sociocultural notions of gender: men dominating society, politics, and the economy. Nurses therefore needed positive working relationships with male leaders. In South Africa, such gender dynamics led to the South African Nursing Association (SANA), being influenced by a political system, that is, apartheid, which had dire consequences for the profession. This article illustrates that historically the emerging nursing profession was intimately connected with a changing society: female nurses strove for economic and professional independence but were confined by a male-dominated (medical) society. South African female nurse leaders never openly challenged the political status quo. It is recommended that current South African nursing organisations advocate for gender equality and clarify how they can foster a health-care environment in which gender diversity is the norm.

The Role of Gender in the History of the Professional Development of South African Nursing and Nursing Organisations

Gender Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Historically, female nurse leaders endeavoured to make nursing a profession by establishing nursing organisations that could act as agents of change. They were...

The Role of Gender in the History of the Professional Development of South African Nursing and Nursing Organisations

Published Online: Dec 27, 2021

Page range: 110 - 127

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2022-0008

Keywords
gender, sociocultural factors, nurses, nursing organisations, South Africa

© 2021 Jm Esterhuizen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Role of Gender in the History of the Professional Development of South African Nursing and Nursing Organisations

Published Online: Dec 27, 2021

Page range: 110 - 127

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2022-0008

Keywordsgender, sociocultural factors, nurses, nursing organisations, South Africa

© 2021 Jm Esterhuizen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
gender, sociocultural factors, nurses, nursing organisations, South Africa