The Brazilian expeditionary force's nursen in the Italian Front

Abstract

This social-historical study analyzes the proximity between the nurses at the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB, in the Portuguese-language acronym) and the authorities in charge of the U.S. the Brazilian Armies in World War II. Primary sources: two photographs that complement each other and reports from nine nurses who participated in the conflict. Secondary sources: literature on the subject. Some of Pierre Bourdieu's concepts were used to give support to the discussion. Conclusions: in the military milieu the nurses received a special treatment from the commanders of the U.S. and the Brazilian Armies, and had more visibility to the Brazilian nurses amongst soldiers and in the media. The nurses won a battle by being respected in a new and unknown world, within the universe of the Armed Forces, which is historically dominated by men. Working as part of a team, those nurses struggled for self-affirmation and respect in that peculiar historical moment.