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Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate stereotypes of occupational gender roles about male nurses, as viewed from both emic and etic perspectives. Background: Male nurses are a minority group in health institutions. Stereotypes have been questioned regarding these males' occupational role and presence in the nursing profession. Design A qualitative description design was used. Methods: During 2016, semi‐structured interviews (N = 30) were conducted with male nurses (n = 10) (emic group), female nurses (n = 10) and discharged patients (n = 10) (etic groups) from four public hospitals. Results: Seven categories with respective themes and subthemes emerged. Three categories were captured for emic groups, namely, existing stereotypes, experiences of stereotyping and the influences of stereotypes on work performance. Four categories emerged for etic groups, namely, treatment preferences, types of stereotyping towards male nurses, origin of stereotypes and effects of stereotypes. Conclusion: Positive and negative stereotypes were reported by both emic and etic groups, with etic groups revealing more stereotypes. Effort should be made by both management in the practice environment and the media to counter the stereotyping of male nurses. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Stereotyping of male occupational roles in the nursing profession has been questioned.Limited information is available on male occupational stereotypes in the nursing profession within low‐ and medium‐income countries such as South Africa. What this paper adds (research findings/key new information)? This paper describes perspectives with both an emic (male nurses) and etic (female nurses and discharged patients) focus on occupational stereotyping of males in the nursing profession.The findings indicated more stereotyping towards male nurses from etic groups compared with emic groups. The implications of this paper (how findings influence or can be used to change policy/practice/research/education): The media and the Departments of Education and Health should assist by creating public awareness on the importance of male nurses in the profession.Practice environments should support male nurses through in‐service training and open discussions between various categories of staff, to prevent stereotyping and sensitize staff on the impact of stereotyping on male nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]