Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/49025

Title

Occupational prestige perceptions of nursing and physiotherapy: an international survey

Author(s)

Turner, Patricia A.;  Whitfield, T. W. Allan

Abstract

In contemporary society a person's social position, level of education and intelligence are assumed from an occupational label. Furthermore, an occupational label is normally accompanied by economic rewards and privileges commensurate with its status. For such reasons the labelling of an occupation as a profession assumes considerable importance to its members. Termed occupational prestige assessment, this is a well researched area within the social sciences. Within this framework a series of studies was undertaken in four countries of the perceived occupational standing of nursing and physiotherapy. This was motivated by both the relative neglect of these occupations within this research domain and their clear intent upon achieving professional status. The research method consisted of rating these occupations against ten others on six dimensions that are broadly indicative of professional standing. The dimensions were levels of income, education, responsibility, usefulness, social standing and the proportion of women. A cross-cultural sample was obtained involving a total of 1671 respondents from England, Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong. The results reveal that nurse was consistently perceived in the four countries as a largely female occupation with high levels of usefulness and responsibility; though with low income and only an intermediate social status, comparable to police constable. The position of physiotherapist was more complex. Physiotherapy was not seen to be female dominated and was perceived to have higher income levels. While in Korea and England it occupied a similar social position as nurse, in Australia and Hong Kong it approached the positions of solicitor and architect, placing it on the periphery of the entry point to the 'big four' professions of judge, doctor, solicitor and architect. As encouraging as this may seem for physiotherapy, the gap is considerable before entry into this exclusive professional domain. It is notable that both nursing and physiotherapy have progressed considerably to university-based education and specialisation. Unfortunately, and especially for nursing, public perceptions appear not to have kept pace with these developments. Both nursing and physiotherapy need to engage in further professionalisation---accompanied by judicious marketing. These are tasks for their professional bodies.

Publication type

Book chapter

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Design. National Institute for Design Research

Source

New research on social perception / John A. Zebrowski (ed.), pp. 207-229

Publication year

2007

Keyword(s)

Allied health professions;  Australia;  Cross-cultural perceptions;  Gender differences;  Gender roles;  Gender stereotypes;  Hong Kong;  Income;  Marketing;  Nursing;  Occupation;  Occupational prestige assessment;  Occupational stereotypes;  Physiotherapy;  Prestige profiles;  Professional prestige;  Professionalisation;  Public perceptions;  Social perceptions;  Social standing;  South Korea;  Surveys;  United Kingdom;  Values;  Women

Publisher

Nova Publishers

ISBN

9781600213779, 1600213774

Publisher URL

http://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4708

Publisher URL

http://books.google.com/books?id=C7NqL-sDnlsC

Copyright

Copyright © 2007 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Peer reviewed