Final answer:
The nursing profession was glamorized in the 1940s through the film and literature series, aligning with the advancement of women's roles in healthcare and their depiction in media. The correct option to fill in the blanks in the question is b) Film, literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1940s, nursing was glamorized through various types of media. The correct answer to the question is b) Film, literature. These mediums depicted the profession with a sense of romanticism, adding an aura of glamour to the noble profession of nursing. This trend can be associated with the broader societal context where opportunities expanded for women in nursing and medicine, sometimes gaining reputation through work in hospitals in Canada or in the field hospitals in France during times of conflict. The silver screen and the written word were powerful in shaping public perception, as shown by the film industry establishing Hollywood as America's movie capital. Radio programming and newspapers were significant in providing information and entertainment, but it was film that captured the imagination with stories that often went beyond the harsh realities of the profession.
Mass circulation magazines also played a role in shaping the perception of women and their roles in society including professions such as nursing. Even though women on the home front contributed greatly in different sectors during the time, nursing was one of the primary areas where they were visibly present, including being close to the front lines during wars. This mixed representation of nurses in media, as romantic figures through film and literature, alongside the reality of their critical roles in healthcare continued to affect the public's view of the profession. Thus, the portrayal of nursing in the 1940s through film and literature made a lasting impact on the public's image of nurses, further solidified by women’s advancing roles in the medical field during and after the World Wars.