This study investigates whether male workers at the preschool feel treated differently from their female colleagues. My theoretical perspectives are gender and social constructivist theories are used in this study. When analyzing the results of the interview, variation is used as it highlights the understandings, attitudes and discourse of how people view each other in terms of their gender. During this study, I interviewed six male preschool workers and categorized their response in different themes. I formulated open ended interview questions in order to answer my research questions. The descriptions of the interviewees’ response were analyzed and the findings were written down.   My findings from the interviewees shows that gender perception influence and affect how women and men are treated at the preschool. The results also shows that male workers at the preschool interact differently with children compared with the female ones.

The promotion of male educators in the early childhood care and education (ECCE) workforce has been pursued as a social policy in various countries around the world, yet this issue is virtually absent in ECCE literature and policy in South Africa. From certain child development, education and gender perspectives, more men in ECCE is seen as good for children, good for men, challenges gender stereotypes and enhances gender equity as well as the quality of ECCE. We know very little about male ECCE educators in South Africa. This study aims to shed light on their experiences and explore whether there is a need to promote gender inclusivity in ECCE in South Africa. Due to the virtual absence of this minority, a small sample of six male ECCE educators were purposively sampled in an in-depth, qualitative case study, using semi-structured interview schedule and face-to-face interviews. The study also explored the views of two key informants - academics working in early childhood and gender studies. Thematic content analysis of the data revealed some commonalities with previous studies. While some generalisations can be drawn the aim of the study was to gather contextualised accounts of these experiences and views on the broader social issues pertaining to the lack of men in the sector. The overall findings suggest that there is a need for existing and potential male educators to be encouraged, supported and made more visible. This requires network building by male educators themselves and support from the ECCE sector, Government and other stakeholders for programmes that promote attitude and institutional change.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T14:31:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elsa Santana dos Santos Lopes.pdf: 1156477 bytes, checksum: b443191380ba0123972d1a49b0d10a78 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-09 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This doctoral thesis looks at four life experiences of male educators working with education and care of young children in public childcare centers in the city of Santo André, in the ABC Paulista region, from the perspective of gender relations. The research is focused on finding out about these male educators working in childcare centers, what are their reasons for choosing the teaching profession, and how they perform their work in a socially recognized a female profession. Although in a reduced number, the presence of male educators working in childcare centers has been growing in the municipality. Additionally, hiring male workforce is recommended as part of social policies promoting equality between men and women, as well as guided by public policies towards gender diversity in education. This study sought to answer the following questions: Why do men work in this education stage? Are the male educators of young children out of place? The field research consisted of interviews with four male educators working in public childcare centers of Santo André, caring for children aged 0-3 years. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology, aiming at knowing and understanding the meanings these educators attribute to themselves, their practice as early childhood professionals, and which socially attributed meanings they perceive in others. The findings show that the male presence in childcare centers as early childhood professionals generates estrangement and conflict situations. At the same time, the results show that there are several doubts about the sexuality of these professionals and fears associated with male characteristics as causing risks to the physical integrity of children in activities related to child s body care, especially concerning girls. These negative reactions towards male educators are observed among the children s family members, among the management team members, and between female and male educators working at the same public childcare centers. The interview reports revealed some strategies used by the male educators who participated in the research to face the negative situations they were confronted with at workplace and their views of their roles as male educators in public childcare centers / Este trabalho lança um olhar para as histórias de vida de educadores homens que atuam na educação e cuidado de crianças pequenas em creches da rede pública do município de Santo André, na região do ABC Paulista, sob a ótica das relações de gênero. O foco da pesquisa está direcionado em conhecer quem são os homens que atuam como educadores na educação infantil, quais os motivos dessa escolha profissional e como trabalham em uma profissão reconhecida socialmente como feminina. Ainda que em número reduzido, a presença de educadores de creche homens vem crescendo no município. Além disso, ela é preconizada como parte das políticas de promoção de igualdade entre homens e mulheres e de uma educação pautada na diversidade de gênero. A partir dessa constatação, o trabalho procurou responder às perguntas: Por que os homens têm se dedicado a essa etapa de educação? Estariam os educadores homens de crianças pequenas fora de lugar? A pesquisa de campo consistiu na realização de quatro entrevistas com educadores homens, que atuam nas creches públicas do município de Santo André, atendendo crianças de 0 a 3 anos de idade. Adotou-se uma perspectiva qualitativa, procurando conhecer e compreender que sentidos esses educadores atribuem a si próprios e à sua prática enquanto profissionais da educação infantil e, em contrapartida, que sentidos percebem que lhes são atribuídos socialmente. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a presença masculina na creche, como educadores de crianças pequenas, gera muitos estranhamentos e situações conflituosas, ao mesmo tempo em que desperta dúvidas quanto à sexualidade desses profissionais e receios quanto aos riscos associados a características masculinas como trazendo riscos à integridade física das crianças nas atividades de cuidados com o corpo, especialmente quando essas crianças são do sexo feminino. Essas reações são constatadas tanto entre familiares das crianças como entre membros da equipe gestora e entre colegas. Os depoimentos revelaram algumas estratégias utilizadas por esses profissionais no enfrentamento dessas situações e suas concepções sobre o seu papel enquanto educadores homens no ambiente da creche

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