ABSTRACT

This stimulating book sets out to critically explore the notion of men, masculinities and teaching in early childhood education. It addresses the global pattern of gender, teaching and care where men are in the minority, and explores the notion that the greater involvement of men within teaching and associated professions has the potential to transform gender relations for future generations.

International contributors raise critical questions about the construction of masculinities, the continuing reluctance of men to engage in this type of work, and the influence of political and public debates on the issue. Through this engaging discussion readers are asked to question whether this is something that we should care about, with key topics including:

  • The roles of men in education and care
  • Teachers’ beliefs, norms and values of gender equality
  • The construction of male identities
  • Gendered ideals, and children’s interpretations of gender.

Men, Masculinities and Teaching in Early Childhood Education brings together a refreshing and critical set of perspectives linked to an increasingly important educational debate and will be a valuable text for practitioners, professionals, policy makers and parents/carers.

chapter |10 pages

Introduction

part |45 pages

Policy, legislation and perspectives

part |34 pages

Young children Gender, learning and care

chapter |11 pages

Big and muscular boys

Teaching of normality in pre-school through food and eating

chapter |13 pages

Gender in pre-school and child-centred ideologies

A story from an Indonesian kindergarten

part |45 pages

Gendered professional identities and practice

chapter |11 pages

Pioneers, professionals, playmates, protectors, ‘poofs' and ‘paedos'

Swedish male pre-school teachers' construction of their identities

chapter |12 pages

Being professional

Norms relating to male pre-school teachers in Japanese kindergartens and nurseries

chapter |12 pages

Gendered ideals and sports coaching

Reflections on the male as ‘the centre' of sports in relation to child sports