Men working in "Child Care".

[Shadow]

I guessed that CWL

But I think its good that you do that-Jazz's daughter needs to consider all possible angles on this when writing up her paper and in coming to a conclusion you need to look at all the possible questions and theories.

Gawd-still remember having to do mine

[Deleted]

Fair point....................don't suppose she was ever going to get very far just on the abuse angle.

It would be interesting to know what other research has been done into this situation. The stigma associated to this profession for men must have come under the microscope at some time or other. I find it hard to believe it's all just stereotyping or the mere possibility any man doing this kind of work must be suspect.

CWL

[Ann1]

My daughter manages 3 houses for adults with mental and physical difficulties, and I must admit she's never mentioned any men when she has a winge about sorting out rotas!! And I know her manager is a woman as is the area manager. I think the top boss is a man though, I'll ask her when I next phone her. I never thought of of it as women protecting their position, but I suppose it makes sense. I think the "paedophile" situation, is a very real fear though, the way things are these days. Some people seem to think they are round every corner, and could be off putting to any male who wants to work with young kids. Wasn't there a problem a while back, with lack of male teachers in primary schools, and they were trying to recruit more?

[Roma]

One of my daughters is a teacher in Primary and they only have one male
teacher who has been there years.

[Ann1]

I think there was only one male teacher at my kids' primary school, although the headmaster was male. So it's been a problem for years!!

[Jazz]

On doing her research for this work she did indeed find that the fact that most times women "in charge" tended to employ female staff but apparently this is slowly changing with the advent of the "new man". Its still not attracting men into the job in any great numbers despite some government initiatives (all this according to my daughter).
My personal opinion is that there should be a lot more. It could be a lot of things.....one of which may be our less family orientated culture compared to some other countries. I'm speculating now, don't really know the full facts.

[Jazz]

Thanks, too for all these posts.....I'll pass the ideas on to my daughter and it may give her a different angle/view of things.

[Ann1]

New man? Where? ;D

[Jazz]

Me, here! ;D

[Shadow]

Id question whether the women in charge tended to employ female staff because they were the people applying

Has she looked at the number of male applicants applying and rejected for example?

I'd be interested to see the results on that.

Any person working in the care sector will be as cynical as me and Mr Shads as regards government initiatives.

[Jazz]

I'll put that point to her Shads.....she still has a bit to do on the dissertation so that fact will be good to insert in somewhere. I'll keep you posted!

[Banshee]

Its the same the other way around. its still unusual for women to get into training for building work, mechanics etc. What will draw them to it, if it is percieved as a male orientated environment? It must be the same for men. I dont think its anything to do with men being wary of the whole abuse thing. its just about the traditional roles still being an influence on choices.

[Jazz]

Yes, basically men are men and generally have men's interests and same thing applies to women so, at the "end of the day" I don't think you can revolutionize the system.....what will be, will be! An improvement in the "work related gender bias" would certainly be a good thing though, especially in child care.

[grimreaper]

I don't read into most of the threads mainly because all I normally bother about is music and jokes.
But this thread is interesting.
I have two mates who in their early years went through all the college b.tecs and other qualifications and were into working in nurseries with young uns.
I caught up with both over the past few months and they are both on the dole.
I asked whatever happened to the work they were both doing with the young ones.
They both wrote off their careers along time ago when all this abuse in nursery's came into the open.
Like someone already wrote its really not a mans job these days which is a pity cos both were brill with kids and have plenty of their own which are all grown and have careerers.

[Shadow]

Thats a real shame

As I said earlier-altho its not exactly early years-the majority of teachers in my sons primary are women-theres one bloke.And he is a brilliant teacher with an excellent rapport with the kids.

People see paedophiles round every corner these days and yet there are no more now than there ever were-its just the reporting that has improved.It seems that any bloke who shows any sort of care towards children these days is viewed with suspicion.

When I was a youngster we had a childless couple living opposite us-they were like a second set of parents to us and we spent most weekends there happily playing and being spoilt rotten-they just loved kids.After the death of his wife the bloke still remained on friendly terms with the kids in the neighbourhood.

However one day-when he did his usual trip to the ice cream van to buy all the kids ice-creams-something he'd done for nigh on forty years a dad who had recently moved nearby saw this and created a huge commotion-accusing the bloke of this and that and basically accusing him of being a paedo.It absolutely broke his heart.