Reporter notes that Researchers attribute the ubiquitous presence of Malayali nurses in the health care sector to various factors:

• Women’s education having come early in Kerala;
• Missionary and state efforts in developing service-oriented sectors, such as education and health; a well-established tradition of migration;
• Existence of informal networks that expedite such migration.

Nursing was the preferred vocation because the investment needed for training was modest, they could sustain themselves and their family, pay for their siblings’ education and even earn a dowry for their marriage.  But, for women from the higher classes and castes, nursing was a complete no-no. The profession was looked down upon, as the work was demanding, the hours were long and included night shifts, and it was not seen as advisable for women to attend to strange, unknown people including men.

Today, nursing as a career has become very popular, even among non-Malayalis and men in need of a job. This is because of the opportunities it offers to earn well and go abroad.

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