In 2019, nurse Jessica Anderson completed the London Marathon wearing her work scrubs. She hoped to win an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest person in a nurse’s uniform running a marathon. While she did run the fastest time, she was denied the award because her nurse’s uniform did not meet standards. The pictures in figure 8.1 show changes in nursing uniforms historically and today. According to the record officials, “the nurse’s uniform must include: a blue or white nurse dress, a white pinafore apron, a traditional white nurse’s cap. Tights are optional” (Burns 2019).

Anderson, and many others, disagreed that modern nurses should be held to an old-fashioned standard. The incident spread throughout the news and social media, with nurses posting pictures wearing their typical scrubs. A week later, the Guinness organization apologized and awarded Anderson the title. The Guinness organization also publicly acknowledged the need to address equity and inclusion in its rules. They changed their requirements due to the awareness raised by nurse Anderson and other health professionals. This example shows how gendered work norms can be found throughout society today.

In this chapter, we will discover how gender norms influence the workplace. Workplace rules and regulations guide gendered stereotypes and expectations, such as formal guidelines on what you should look like at work. We will also learn about workplace violence and the sex work industry.

Figure 8.1. Nurse uniforms from 1898 (on left) compared with a nurse’s scrubs today (on right).