The effects of compulsory uniform on identity
4. The effects compulsory uniform has on a person’s identity
"http://www.warandgender.com/6_fig010.jpg"The beliefs of the feminist movement were a large inspiration across society and women’s authorisation. (Moon, 2011) discusses the need for equality within all humanity. “In addition, in the 1960s and early 1970s nursing was predominantly a woman’s occupation, and as many women began to move to occupations previously closed to them where they could find higher pay and more advancement potential, the pool of potential nurses decreased.” This indicates that with the incline in recruitment of nursing, the understanding that this occupation was one only applicable to women would prove to be unbeneficial to society due to the military’s constant need for nurses, an issue which could not be ignored. (Figure 16) further suggests women’s insignificance within this period.
""“No professional male nurses were featured, though two male medics were. Recruitment brochures likewise portrayed male nurses in rare instances, most often in brochures where they demonstrated the uniforms male nurses wore.” (Moon, 2011, p. 112) targets the consumers of uniform directly, with discussing that the representation of male gender would still be desirable but were clearly not the main aim of these promotional tools. In opposition, (Parker, 1993, p. 4) states “The men’s willingness to follow the nurse’s instructions illustrated their acceptance of her as an authority figure. The nurse’s uniform reinforced this image.” This analysing the confirmation that these uniforms worn are able to portray control, regardless of its wearer’s gender, although its reflection determines masculine shapes rather than ones related to females. A member of security within a hospital answered “Patients know who you are, authority and level of hierarchy” when asked ‘What benefits does wearing uniform have, if any?’ indicating that of recent, uniform is of bigger significance in regards to feeling secure and with gender being something which isn’t considered. (see Appendix 3). This allows the question that thoughts of self-doubt in women are able to be partially answered and in this being a factor supporting alteration of a person’s identity through the use of these apparels. In further support, 86 percent of the public answered “yes” to ‘Do you think that in people wearing uniform this allows them to change their identity whilst wearing it?’ demonstrating that the modification of identities could be an occurring factor.
4.1 In having self-doubt about ourselves, does wearing uniform help to hide this?
“Even before considering the specific tactics used in recruitment materials, one can see through the Army’s neglect to target male nurses that it wished to maintain the traditional tie between nursing, particularly war nursing, and femininity. In fact, of the twenty-eight different Army advertisements that appeared in nursing journals and magazines between 1963 and 1972, only one featured a male nurse student. Recruitment brochures likewise portrayed male nurses in rare instances, not often in brochures where they demanded the uniforms male nurses wore.” (Moon, 2011, p. 118)
""This suggests that the design of these uniforms is a huge attempt at directing common stereotypes about male nursing or its link between nursing and femininity through the use of these compulsory garments and the reasons why. It is an indication that self-confidence or over-confidence is able to be perceived, with true feelings being adapted. Its main aim is to target these types of job roles at the growth of males rather than a combination of the two through the angular cuts demonstrated on these garments with (Figure 17) indicating this suggestion.
""(Parker, 1993, p. 8) states that “The FNS uniform reinforced the nurse-midwife as sense of identity and purpose, and promoted a feeling of unity amongst the staff” proposing that personal identities within these occupations would be absent and suggesting that the effects these uniforms has on its wearer would be one of a modification. Also, (Parker, 1993, p. 10) “Although stained, the outfit shows little deterioration of the sturdy fabric of its construction. War shortages affected the availability of uniform cloth in the 1940s” further considering that the idea of alteration, at this time would be through its fabric and the quality available within this era. However, (Moon, 2011, p. 114) describes that “Delegates were debating a resolution that would have supported a draft and with no gender qualification specified in the resolution; the ANA proposal supported drafting both male and female nurses” associating gender issues surrounding recruitment within this period.
4.2 Why do people use dressing in uniform to create a hidden identity rather than embracing themselves as they are?
“Moreover, the need for nurses was a problem the ANC would have to deal with itself, for while “physicians, dentists, and other health personnel which are predominately male were subject to the draft for procurement… the nursing fields have traditionally been female and not subject to these procurement devices.” Female nurses were never drafted during the Vietnam era, although the Selective Service developed a plan to do so if called upon.” (Moon, 2011, p. 113)
“Army nursing also provided opportunities for intellectual development that would increase each nurse’s value to the larger medical team. She would be more than a nurse; she would be a dedicated professional, equipped in a particular specialization of nursing.” (Moon, 2011, p. 125) describing that the distribution of occupations heavily depended on the applicant’s gender additionally supported by (Parker, 1993, p. 12) stating “The sensible, military-styled uniform reinforces the nurse’s authority and reassured patients of receiving expert care. The dress unified staff working towards a common goal making them feel like a family and team. Wearing her uniform proudly, the properly attired nurse represented the high standards and ideals of the Frontier Nursing Service.” This indicating a sense of reliability towards each gender within both job roles separately and not as ones which could be mutual if desired.
4.3 How self-confidence can be seen as overly confident, or as equally self-confident to people
"http://www.history.com/minisites/wwii-in-hd/inside-wwii/assets/north-america/women-in-wwii/photo-gallery/women-in-wwii-07-getty-88995287.jpg"“Occupational dress must also be suitable for the worker, as well as suited to the activity. Because of the nature of their job, nurses needed a sensible uniform that conveyed the image of a self-assured, trained nurse. The uniform’s role in developing this image was as important as its practicality.” (Parker, 1993, p. 4) This stating that the professional and authorisation of these figures are thought of as desperately in need due to healthcare of people being of huge prominence and this able to be achieved through appropriate, yet traditional fabric with its potential constraints in mind. With the angular cuts used within both military and healthcare discipline, a more male-dominated uniform theoretically able to allow feelings and opinions to be hidden behind this as shown in (Figure 18). With uniform having the ability to provide instant protection as well as discipline for its wearer, its factors of value, symbolism and professionalism is able to give self-assurance and respect which asks the question “Will military life make me ‘militarized,’ less feminine?” (Moon, 2011, p. 132) and in assuming that these garments are of masculine cuts and fabrics as stated, this literalising women’s ability of being able to ‘hide behind this.’
""The superiority of these uniforms assists in expressing a correct presentation of the involvement of support given by both nurses and military occupations. Its preservation of public image restricting the use of their uniforms by outsiders would have been an occurrence in many services indicating the importance these apparels behold. (Moon, 2011, p. 138) states “By calling women to broad, humanitarian nursing during the Vietnam War, the ANC could essentially rise above political debates about the war and still uphold the traditional idea of service to country” (Moon, 2011, p. 138) additionally supporting that traditionalism bears no meaning, with the freedom of people impacting not only themselves but also the society, perusing this as an unselfish act of kindness. “You’re needed. You’ve heard the news. You know American soldiers are fighting in Vietnam. Could you face yourself and the oath you took when you became a nurse if any of them suffered needlessly because they weren’t enough nurses? Of course not. Fortunately, that won’t happen. Our country won’t let it happen. You won’t let it happen. No one who chooses a nursing career lacks a sense of duty… or compassion.” This suggesting that although conflict and discomfort would occur, this determination specifies that the importance of a high number of nurses would be required, and there would be no room for discrimination if this sector was going to perform, and thrive.
"http://www.historygrandrapids.org/imgs/1588/full/Joy_in_field_hospital-19.jpg"(Parker, 1993, pp. 6–7) demonstrates the support to the soldiers through the act of nursing due to the use of these uniforms and not to them as personalities stating that “The uniform’s represented a satisfaction in her accomplishments. Of course, it did not mean all nurses wore their uniform correctly. Nurse-midwife Nancy O’Driscoll when asked the reason she carried, but never wore, her service cap, replied: “Oh…I think the world of my fine cap, I just don’t want it on my head.”
""“Recruitment of Army nurses was nothing new for wartime, but social and gender changes in the 1960s and early 1970s posed new considerations in nurse recruitment for Vietnam” stated by (Moon, 2011, p. 120). Further supporting this statement “This connection between the wounded male solider and the female nurse did more than suggest nursing as a role for women; it also suggested that female nurses provided important benefits to the soldiers in addition to medical care, benefits that male nurses could not provide.” (Moon, 2011, pp. 139–140). This demonstrating that the development of uniform is able to create advances within these industries, in using gender to explore how powerful these individuals are with a modification through the cut of these garments, (Figure 19) further supporting this.
“Meyer’s garments were constructed of “genuine whipcord, with genuine buckskin reinforcements and made to fit a woman.” (Parker, 1993, p. 7) indicates that although usually constructed with strong influences of masculine aesthetics, these particular garments adopted a more feminine approach, through the eclectic use of its cloth central to design symbolizing women. This supported by the 86 percent of public who answered “yes” to ‘Do you think that in people wearing uniform this allows them to change their identity whilst wearing it?’ (see Appendix 1).
“Because the Army technically forbade women to serve in combat areas, it wanted male nurses for particular locations and assignments such as forward combat medical units, hospitals or surgical units in hostile areas, hospitals where hostile action was anticipated, and med-evac helicopters that transported the wounded from the field. Other than these specific assignments, the ANC had “no numerical procurement objective for male nurses,” and refused to make gender-specific assignments. Males comprised a significantly larger proportion of military than of civilian nurses overall; in 1966, males comprised less than 1 percent of American nurses but approximately 20 percent of Army nurses. This high percentage of male nurses in the military implies that a significantly greater proportion of male than female nurses viewed military nursing as a legitimate career.” (Moon, 2011, pp. 118)
“Colonel Harper stated that a male nurse who served in the ANC selected the profession as “a means by which he supports himself and ultimately his family—and which he will not change by virtue of marriage or raising a family.” She emphasized that this trend was different from female nurses, who often were “not looking for a career of 20 or 30 years in the Army, or in the field of nursing. They look at it purely from the point of the immediacy…gaining an education and a capability for an interim role for the most worthy profession of marriage.” (Moon, 2011, pp. 118–119)
"http://library.uncg.edu/dp/wv/biggie/7/WV002.7.005.jpg""""http://olive-drab.com/images/uniforms_usmc_women_ww2_full.jpg"The recruitment materials would have been designed to appeal to males, although this wouldn’t have been taken into account, rather for reasons of equality and discrimination with its main concern being to attract female nurses. “An Army Nurse had added responsibility to help her meet the added challenge. She is a leader and supervisor of valuable team members.” While the text in itself emphasizes a progressive definition of nursing that imparts responsibility and leadership to the nurse, placing the text directly beside a picture of a uniform links that responsibility and leadership to the uniform. Any kind of equality that the nurses might have found as officers was attributed to their uniform and not to them as individuals.” (Moon, 2011, p. 137) arguing that these traditional feminine roles are made up of accomplishment, social recognition and personal satisfaction, things that male species could not take away even after feminism’s fight for equality with (Figure 20) supportive of this.
""Social debates concerning gender roles have been able to continue the development of nursing and the ways in which women nurses are depicted with the promise of emotional and physical challenges to provide a good performance. (Moon, 2011, p. 129) states that “Army nurses could then “concentrate on professional duties only,” “work with your patients, not your pencils” demonstrating that these specialized skills which nurses obtained and have built on are of greater significance than gender preference, (Figure 21).
With the responsibilities and honour of an Army officer as well as a nurse, traditionally feminine roles are able to define descriptions of gender roles within both the developed nursing and military profession. Community health, maternal and child health, operating room nursing, anaesthesiology, military nursing practice and medical-surgical nursing are all elements within nursing are all examples of its specific areas demanded of them. (Moon, 2011, p. 125) says that “These advertisements asserted that, because the demands of Army nursing were more challenging and rewarding than the “demands” of working in the quiet and controlled wards of civilian hospitals, Army nurses were the most skilful and dedicated nurses in the profession, a tantalizing claim to a nurse who wanted to rise above the stereotypical image of nurses as handmaidens to doctors” which suggests that, unlike the physical sex of a person, gender is a way of constructing certain attributes welcoming and valuing this, without implying natural femininity even after furthering training and commitment to the job role.
“Being an “Officer” and a “Nurse” was shown as a progressive move for a woman, even one who joined the traditionally masculine military. Being an “Officer” was a way to secure equal status with men, while being a “Nurse” promised career advancement and respect.” (Moon, 2011, p. 123) This defining that the resourcefulness of women within this industry is a possibility with involving leadership skills, respect and equality as a way of corroborating this. (Moon, 2011, p. 127) further suggests the unimportance of gender within these occupations through stating that “Thus, because the Army truly valued nurses, it made them officers and placed them on the same level as males regardless of traditional gender and healthcare hierarchies. America’s most traditionally masculine organization and employer portrayed itself as on the cutting edge of feminism’s fight for equal job opportunities, offering women a sure way of being the type of professionals they wanted to be.” This proving that a women’s ability to assert herself in participating equally in all areas of society continued further than this capability, earning her as much responsibility for personal and national success as men.
