Why Is There A Lack Of Men In The Early Years Workforce Essay

Why Is There A Lack Of Men In The Early Years Workforce - Essay Example Since early childhood centres are usually considered the second homes to these young children, then it should simulate the home setting whilst reflecting the situation in the real world. However, children usually just have women teachers and support workers in their early years settings. Only 2-3% of the early years workforce are men (Men in Primary – Early Years, 2007). Although the tradition of having women as early childhood educators has been long practiced, there are now recognized benefits of having more men join the early years workforce. Primarily, it is advantageous for young children to be in an environment that reflects the real gender mix of the world (Parents demand more male childcare workers, 2011). Society may not be ready for more men entering the early years workforce. The inherent expectations of a career in early childhood care and education is usually perceived as more suited to women due to their nurturing nature. Lynn Trodd, head of the Children’s Workforce Development Council contends that research shows that men perceive working in an early years environment is not as prestigious as corporate jobs, have fewer career opportunities, has a vague career structure, the pension system is not in place and there is less in-service training. To top it all, it does not pay well. Being so, it is seen as a far less professional area of work (Men in Primary- Early Years, 2007). Trodd elaborates that most men already in the early years setting have chosen to shift to it after they’ve pursued an earlier career. This phenomenon needs to be studied and the barriers to men entering the early years workforce earlier in their prime need to be investigated and broken down because men can be a great resource to the children’s workforce as they bring with them their own special skills and experiences which women may not be able to. Parents are also beginning to see the benefits of having male teachers and support workers in the ear ly childhood environments their children attend. The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) reports that 55 percent of parents express their preference of having male childcare workers to work with their nursery-aged children. Two-thirds of single mothers say they would like a man involved in the care and development of their young children because they need to have a male father-figure in their lives even if they do not have regular access to their own biological fathers (Parents demand more male childcare workers, 2009). Currently, 17 percent of children from lone parent families have fewer than two hours a week contact time with a man and more children have less than that. 36 percent of children of single mothers have only under six hours male contact each week. Having male early years workers can ensure that such children have enough quality contact time with men. This is especially significant for young boys who need adult men to look up to as role-models. 37 pe rcent of parents believe that male workers provide good examples for boys and that 25 percent of parents believe their sons will behave better with a male worker than with a female worker. Thus, 52 percent of parents believe that early childhood settings need to have male workers because these settings should reflect a real gender mix of the world. In addition, the benefits to their children will increase since men and women have different skills to offer them (Parents Demand More Male Childcare Workers, 2009). On the side of the children, Thom Crabbe, the National Development Manager for Early Years at the CWDC believes that young children in the crucial years of their development (first five years) need to have quality contact with both male and female