Cultural construcción of masculine identity in nursing: challenges and perceptions

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the cultural construction of masculine identity in the nursing career, analyzing the challenges and perceptions of male students in the 5th, 6th, and 7th semesters at the Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado University, Barquisimeto, Lara State. From an interpretive approach, it examined how sociocultural gender norms influence their academic experiences, as well as their personal and social perception within a profession traditionally associated with femininity. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was employed, supported by in-depth interviews, to capture the participants' narratives. Subsequently, the information was processed where categories and subcategories were identified. The sun rising theory of Madeleine Leininger was incorporated as a conceptual guide, allowing for a comprehensive approach to the participants' experiences. The findings revealed that students faced stigmas, prejudices, and identity tensions, but they also developed coping strategies that allow them to reinterpret their role within professional care. Most expressed a positive transformation in their self-perception, highlighting the value of care as a human practice, not limited by gender. It was concluded that the construction of a masculine identity in nursing requires the dismantling of cultural stereotypes, promoting a neutral vision of the profession. This study provided reflections that invite us to recognize that care transcends traditional roles and can be performed by anyone committed to preserving and improving life