Gender and class tensions between psychiatric nurses and the general nursing profession in mid-twentieth century New Zealand

Abstract

Histories Of twentieth century nursing usually present 'general nursing' as the norm and make the assumption that nursing was a female-dominated profession in which men were a marginalised minority. In this article, we argue that in New Zealand, psychiatric nursing had developed a distinct culture from general nursing, was more an occupation than a profession, and was one in which men held a central and powerful position. We explore the tensions that developed between male psychiatric nurses (attendants) and professional nursing leaders when general nursing began to gain authority over mental hospital nursing in the period 1939 to 1959. We argue that rather than being marginalised, the male nurses used their strength as unionised, working-class men to resist the incremental control by general nursing, a profession underpinned by middle-class values. Some battles were lost, but overall the men retained a powerful position in the mental health system during this period.