Men in Childcare Asia

Men in Childcare and Education Asia

Having more men working in early years services encourages more men to use the service.

Men are very clear, that the services seem to them to be provided for women by women. Research into the care and upbringing of children shows that men can be just as effective as women. Work with young children can be both stimulating and exciting. Caring is not just womens work, but this myth is self perpetuating because childcare services have 98 percent women workers. Most of us realise that men are role models for boys, but the presence of a positive male role model in a childs life is equally important for boys and girls. Children need contact with both women and men.

All these are good reasons for having more men in early years work. Until there are more men, we will continue to face an environment which can provide more opportunities for children, but is limited by gender imbalance. Over the years there have seen a lot of changes especially in the area of equality legislation, equal pay for example, is now a legal requirement. One of the areas that has been slowest to change has been the recruitment into childcare.