Critical reflections on the experiences of a male early childhood worker

This article presents a narrative account of one man's experiences during his decade of employment as an early childhood worker. This account is juxtaposed with reflections from feminist and pro-feminist critical perspectives on the reactions, incidents and events he encountered. Tensions between risks and rewards, perceptions of power and powerlessness, and personal and political contexts are explored. These tensions highlight the pervasiveness of hegemonic conceptions of masculinity, and how they constrain gender reform.