Early Years
About male workers in early years
The care and education of pre-school and primary aged children is one of the most gender-segregated occupations in the UK.
Scottish Executive, 2000
Recent Scottish statistics:
- 24 per cent of registered teachers are men
- 6 per cent of primary teachers are male
- just 2 per cent of early years and childcare staff are male.
Why do we need to employ more men in childcare?
Most arguments for employing men in childcare state the benefits to children. It is thought that improving the gender mix would:
- provide children (especially boys and children of single mothers) with male role models
- allow children to see both men and women in caring roles, challenging the stereotype that caring is women's work and demonstrating gender equality to young children.
The Executive has stated its commitment to increasing the diversity of the workforce by recruiting more men and ethnic minorities. It has made extra workforce funding available to further this aim.