Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut said nursing is the most sexualised profession and that nurses deserve greater respect [1].
Ranaut's comments highlight a broader debate in India regarding the professional dignity of healthcare workers and the cultural origins of their attire. By linking professional respect to the visual identity of the workforce, she has sparked a conversation on how colonial-era standards continue to influence modern Indian workplaces.
Ranaut said the current nursing uniform is very British [2]. She said the attire should be "Indianised" based on the preferences of the nurses themselves [2]. According to Ranaut, the British-era uniform contributes to the sexualisation of the profession [3].
"Nurses are the most sexualised profession and they deserve respect," Ranaut said [1]. She said the healthcare sector needs to provide respect to nurses for their contribution to healthcare [3].
These remarks were made in early June 2024 during media interviews and press events [1]. The statements occurred ahead of the release of her film "Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata," which was scheduled for June 12, 2024 [1].
Ranaut said any changes to the professional dress code should be rooted in the choices of the workers to ensure they receive the dignity they deserve [1].
“"Nurses are the most sexualised profession and they deserve respect."”
Ranaut's call to 'Indianise' uniforms reflects a recurring theme in her public persona: the rejection of colonial legacies in favor of national identity. By framing the nursing uniform as a tool of sexualisation, she connects aesthetic changes to the socio-economic status and professional respect of women in the healthcare sector.
