The Image of the Female Nurse in Medication Advertisements in Brazil (1916-1931)

Abstract

Background: The image of the female nurse has been discussed within the field of the history of the profession. It became evident that the attributes used by the nurses were determined by the professional education institutions in Brazil. Objectives: To present and compare the frequency of the female images with the personal attributes of the female nurse in medication advertisements; and to comment on their decoding as a strategy to build the public image of the female nurse. Methodology: This is a historical serial study, in which the images found were analysed through an analysis matrix. Results: During the study, 14 advertisements were found, of which 248 images featured in Fon-Fon magazine. Conclusion: The representations of personal attributes in advertisements help to identify the competition between Nursing Schools regarding the diseemination of the public image of the female nurse.