Caring Religious Women

The Beginnings of Modern Nursing, 1900-1930

Abstract

19th century caring religious women have been widely studied, more so than those of the 20th century. Indeed, the French paradigm of medicalization/laicization had led to an emphasis being put on the history of lay nurses rather than nuns, despite the latter’s role in the professionalization of hospitals. This paper argues that it is essential to focus on religious women if we want to better understand the birth of modern nursing in France. The reasons for this are: the legal obligation and political emphasis put on training and diplomas; the new nursing battle-fronts to cure tuberculosis after World War I; a gender divide accepted both by doctors (male) and nurses (female) and supported by hospital authorities. Moreover this configuration also raised issues about the changing identities of women who were asked to be both nuns and nurses (or nurses and nuns), as well blurring the age-old separation between religious and lay medical personnel. Nurses’ professional groups and trade unions reveal these tensions.